Stocks on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange inched up on July 18, pulling the Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index from a six-week low as some blue-chip stocks advanced.
The shares of 289 companies and five mutual funds listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange gained 0.25 percent, or 1.03 points, to close at 415.77 points.
Among the index members, 61 edged up, 129 went down, while 105 remained unchanged.
Trading volume on the city bourse was a little changed over the previous trading session as 19.34 million shares changed hands at a value of VND346 billion, down 10 percent, the lowest level in the past five trading sessions.
Saigon Thuong Tin Joint Stock Commercial Bank or Sacombank (STB), the fourth largest listed lender, led the list of most active shares in volume with 2.02 million shares changing hands. The company has stayed on the top rank for eight consecutive trading sessions.
Saigon Securities Inc. (SSI), the country’s largest brokerage, followed with 1.11 million shares traded.
Vietnam Commercial Joint Stock Export Import Bank or Eximbank (EIB) chased after with 681,210 shares.
Vietnam Golf Tourism Joint Stock Company (VNG) leaped forward 4.94 percent to close at VND17,000.
Construction company Chuong Duong Joint Stock Company (CDC) rebounded 4.86 percent to VND15,100.
Dong Do Marine Joint Stock Company (DDM) revived 4.76 percent to VND4,400.
Gia Lai Sugar - Thermal Power Joint Stock Company (SEC) nosedived 20.75 percent to VND21,000. The company will issue 2,901,098 shares to advance dividends for the first term of this year to its current shareholders at a ratio of 20 percent.
Hapaco Corporation (HAP) tumbled 11.59 percent to VND6,100. The company will reward bonus shares to its current shareholders at a ratio of 12 percent since July 20.
Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam or Vietcombank (VCB) slumped 6.29 percent to VND26,800. The bank’s current shareholders will receive dividends in shares at a ratio of 12 percent.
The HNX-Index of the smaller bourse in the north slipped 0.73 percent, or 0.52 points, to close at 71.02 points. Trading on the northern trading floor improved by 50.57 percent in volume and 35.36 percent in value as 24.2 million shares were traded at VND228.84 billion.
Meanwhile, the UPCoM-Index of unlisted shares trimmed 0.49 percent, or 0.16 points, to 32.2 points. A total of 81,975 shares changed hands at a value of VND497 million as of 2 pm local time.
