Investors read from same script

While the central bank continued injecting money to open-market operations to lower interest rates, inflation proved more positive via  Hanoi’s lower-than-expected consumer price index figures posted yesterday.

At the same time, Minister of Finance Vuong Dinh Hue said gasoline prices would not increase this year, despite opposite ideas from regulators.

The VN-Index of the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) gained 1.69 points or 0.38 per cent to 449.26 points, after falling to nearly 440 points during the session. The benchmark also dipped in two previous sessions due to investors’ macroeconomic fears.

Major stocks led the advancers, with Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) and PetroVietnam Finance (PVF) both hitting the ceiling. Tan Tao Investment Industry Corp. (ITA), Licogi 16 (LCG), Saigon Securities Inc. (SSI), Eximbank (EIB) and Refrigeration Electrical Engineering Corp. (REE) all jumped 2-4 per cent.

Gainers amounted to 180 stocks, overwhelming 58 decliners. Among them, some 50 stocks hit the ceiling.

Becamex Infrastructure Development (IJC) outperformed the market with 2.8 million shares matched, soaring 4.42 per cent.

Matching volume reached 47 million shares worth VND910 billion ($44.4 million), with put-through volume still making up large portion of 10 million shares worth VND297 billion ($14.5 million).

The Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) added 0.84 points or 1.13 per cent to end at 75.44 points. Liquidity remained quite low at 43.12 million shares worth VND496.4 billion ($24.2 million).

Major stocks largely rebounded as well, soaring 4-5 per cent. Besides, local investors rushed cashed in on low-price shares like Saigon-Hanoi Securities (SHS), Post and Telecommunication Equipment (POT).

Some 201 stocks ended higher on the northern bourse with 24 hitting ceiling, compared with 71 off and 42 unchanged.