Shares closed higher last week on both national bourses, with liquidity reaching a record high on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.

In the city, the VN-Index gained 0.9 percent to reach 505.64 points, while the HNX-Index on the Hanoi Stock Exchange climbed 1.03 percent to 64.59 points.

Total trading volume on the southern bourse averaged 119.98 million shares with an average trading value of 1.595 trillion VND (75.95 million USD), higher than the previous week's figures.

Matching volume on the Ho Chi Minh City Exchange was 37.4 percent up over the previous week. On November 21, matching volume reached a record high of 170 million shares, although the benchmark indice still slipped due to inactive blue chips.

On the Hanoi Exchange, an average 55.42 million shares changed hands with a total value of 422.54 billion VND (20.12 million USD).

The market witnessed strong cash flows into speculative stocks last week, which helped boost liquidity on both national stock exchanges.

Real estate sector, construction, mining and transportation stocks proved attractive last week, with Tan Tao Industrial Investment (ITA), Hoang Quan Real Estate (HQC), Vitaco (VTO), Tu Liem Urban Development (NTL), Vietnam Construction Import and Export Corporation (VCG), Tay Bac Minerals (KTB) and FLC Group (FLC) the main beneficiaries.

Both benchmark indices saw mixed fortunes during the week, rising on November 18, 20 and 22, but losing on November 19 and 21. This was mainly due to foreign investors' net selling during the first trading days of the week, according to stock analysts.

The selling trend worried investors, prompting profit-taking on speculative stocks.

By November 22, speculative stocks had started to lose their attractiveness, while blue chips became more active, helping the benchmark indices close higher.

According to Bao Viet Securities, cash flowed towards blue chips with good business results or a high possibility of increasing interest from foreign investors, including REE Corporation (REE), FPT Group (FPT) and Ho Chi Minh City Securites (HCM).

Foreign investors concluded last week as net buyers, in the green by 77.6 billion VND (3.69 million USD). The net buying trend returned for the final two trading days of the week, consolidating investor confidence and protecting the market against increased profit taking pressure on speculative stocks.

The high market activity was prompted by the rumour that the Government signed a document to increase accessibility for foreign investors. However, as of November 22, there was no official information to support this.-VNA