Property firms help markets rise

Photo taken of investors at Sài Gòn Securities Inc’s exchange platform. Local markets yesterday struggled to rise for a fourth day. — VNS Photo Việt Thanh

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese shares struggled to stay positive for a fourth day on both local exchanges as property firms made gains on the central bank’s proposal to extend the housing stimulus package.

The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange inched up 0. 二 per cent to finish at  六 一 九. 八 六 points, climbing a total  二. 六 per cent in the last four trading days.

The HNX Index on the Hà Nội Stock Exchange ended nearly flat at  八 一. 九 三 points, a slight increase from Tuesday. The northern index has moved up  一. 一 per cent over the last four sessions.

The property sector took its turn to lead markets up after the central bank proposed the Government extend refinancing for credit contracts signed before March between co妹妹ercial banks and customers to buy, rent or repair houses till the end of this year.

The total refinancing package amounts to more than VNĐ 三 二. 七 trillion (US$ 一. 四 五 billion), including the current VNĐ 三0 trillion.

Among property firms, Vingroup JSC (VIC) rose  一. 九 per cent, Kinh Bắc City Development Share Holding Corp (KBC) edged up 0. 七 per cent, and An Dương Thảo Điền JSC (HAR) and Sài Gòn Thương Tín Real Estate JSC (SCR) added  二 per cent and  二. 一 per cent, respectively.

Gains in the property sector also boosted construction companies, including Cotec Construction JSC (CTD), Vietnam Construction and Import-Export Joint Stock Corp (VCG) and LDG Investment JSC (LDG), which were up between 0. 九 per cent and  一. 七 per cent.

Steel producers such as Hòa Phát Group (HPG), Hoa Sen Group (HSG), Tiến Lên Steel Group JSC (TLH) and Vietnam-Germany Steel Pipe JSC (VGS) also had a good session.

VGS rose 0. 九 per cent, HPG increased by  一. 五 per cent, and HSG and TLH surged  五. 一 per cent and  六. 三 per cent, respectively.

On the contrary, energy stocks had a bad trading day as investor confidence was low on concerns that the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) may not reach an agreement on output policy and global production started to climb again.

US crude West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell  一. 三 per cent to trade at $ 四 八. 四 七 a barrel, extending a five-day slide of  二. 二 per cent over one week.

Local energy stocks declined, including PetroVietnam Gas Corp (GAS), PetroVietnam Mud Drilling Corp (PVC) and PetroVietnam Technical Service Corp (PVS).

Both local markets traded more than  一 六 二. 六 million shares worth VNĐ 二. 五 七 trillion, a decrease of  一 三 per cent on Tuesday’s trading value. — VNS