HÀ NỘI — The benchmark VN-Index surpassed the short-term resistance of 780 points on Thursday, closing up 0.56 per cent at 782.65 points, thanks to strong investor confidence in the market outlook.

This is the highest landmark since early 2008. The key index on the HCM Stock Exchange has expanded over 17 per cent since the beginning of this year.

On the Hà Nội Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index rose for a third day, adding 0.67 per cent to close Thursday at 102.60 points. The northern market index has soared over 28 per cent compared to the end of 2016.

Investors were solid on the market outlook and increased capital flows in the markets.

A total of 341 million shares worth a combined VNĐ4.9 trillion (US$216 million) were traded on the two markets, up 18.8 per cent in volume and 11.4 per cent in value compared with the previous session.

Money shifted focus on penny and medium-cap stocks. Shares of Tân Tạo Investment and Industry (ITA), Hoàng Quân Consulting-Trading-Service Real Estate (HQC), HAI Agrochem (HAI) were still among the most purchased on the HCM Stock Exchange.

Among these stocks, ITA hit the daily maximum rise of 7 per cent allowed on the HCM City market for a third day, settling at VNĐ4,940 a share. The shares have gained value for nine of the last 10 sessions with a total growth of 45.7 per cent following the result of its annual shareholders’ meeting on June 26.

At the meeting, ITA announced its ambitious business targets for 2017, of which total revenues will likely reach VNĐ880.4 billion and net profit of VNĐ309.2 billion, a rise of 160 per cent in revenue and 700 per cent in profit compared to 2016’s performance.

Besides, many low-priced shares also received large investments including real estate developer An Dương Thảo Điền (HAR), Vicem Hải Vân Cement (HVX), Lào Cai Mineral Exploitation & Processing (LCM), and Agribank Securities Co (AGR) which hit the daily limit gain.

For large-cap stocks, energy firms were among the biggest gainers with PV Gas (GAS), Petrolimex (PLX) and Petrolimex Gas Corporation (PGC) adding up 1 per cent, 3.2 per cent and 3.6 per cent, respectively.

Global oil prices tumbled on Wednesday with Brent crude futures settling down 3.7 per cent at $47.79 a barrel while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 4.12 per cent at $45.13 per barrel.

According to analysts at Maritime Securities Co, the market will likely face a downward correction after a strong rally.

“Cash has been moving to small- and medium-cap shares which may indicate the possibility of a short-term correction,” they wrote in a note and suggested a hold-and-buy strategy while considering profit taking of the stocks that have risen sharply. — VNS