HCMC – Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index closed above 1,300 points for the first time in 18 months today (February 24), driven by gains in securities and steel stocks.
The main index rose 7.81 points, or 0.6%, to end at 1,304.56 points, with 260 winners and 194 losers. Today’s session was the most active one in five months, with volume reaching 892.5 million shares worth VND21.1 trillion, up 15.8% and 29.4% over the previous session, respectively. Block deals accounted for 84.7 million shares valued at VND2.55 trillion.
The VN30 index, which tracks the 30-largest cap stocks, added more than 10 points as 21 bluechip stocks advanced and six others declined. Steel stocks led the advance, with HPG increasing 4.7%, NKG rising 2.49%, and HSG gaining 1.99%.
HPG was the most actively traded stock on the southern exchange with a trading volume of nearly 73.9 million shares. The steel sector’s rally followed the Government’s move to impose temporary anti-dumping duties on hot-rolled coil (HRC) imports from China, with tariffs ranging from 19.38% to 27.83%.
Among the bluechips, VNM increased 3.9% and SSI rose 2%. FPT fell 1.1% while minor losses were recorded in BCM, PLX, ACB, VHM, and VIC.
Mid- and small-cap stocks saw strong demand. LDG hit its daily price limit of VND2,200 per share, with over 9.5 million shares traded. TPC, TMT and PTC also closed at ceiling prices.
On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index added 0.92 point, or 0.39%, to close at 238.49 points, with a total trading volume of nearly 60 million shares valued at VND1.07 trillion. The northern market saw 79 advancers and 91 decliners.
