HO CHI MINH CITY, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Vietnam Stock Index or VN-Index, a capitalization-weighted index of all the companies listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, approached the threshold of 690 points this week.
The index closed at 688.89 points on Wednesday. According to local stock experts, investors were optimistic about the market outlook and earnings prospects of listed companies.
Many blue chips gained value, including financial and bank stocks (VCB), BIDV (BID), Vietinbank (VCB), Sacombank (STB), Asia Commercial Bank (ACB), Sai Gon-Hanoi Bank (SHB), HCM Securities Co. (HCM), Saigon Securities Inc. (SSI) and insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH).
Besides blue chips, a large number of low-valued stocks had impressive performances, including real estate developer FLC Group (FLC), Quang Nam Rubber Investment JSC (VHG), Hoang Huy Investment Services JSC (HHS), PetroVietnam Construction JSC (PVX) and Sai Gon Thuong Tin Real Estate JSC (SCR).
The index closed at 684.83 points on Friday, down 1.56 points, or 0.23 percent, from the previous trading day's close. From the previous week's closing session, the index lost 2.17 points, or 0.31 percent.
During the week, the index experienced two ups and three downs, posting the highest level of 688.89 points on Wednesday, and the lowest level of 680.95 points on Monday. In comparison, it ranged between 674.19 points and 687 points in the previous week.
About 136.021 million shares worth 2.392 trillion Vietnamese dong (VND) (108.64 million U.S. dollars) changed hands on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange on Friday, an increase of 12.32 percent in volume and 0.79 percent in value against Thursday.
The index may reach 700-710 points in the next trading sessions, predicted Bao Viet Securities Company.
