Shares rose slightly on March 28 on both national stock exchanges, even as trading volumes and values dropped compared to the previous session on March 25.

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index rose by 0.27 percent to close at 93.07 points. Both volume and value dropped by more than 25 percent from March 25 to just 28.2 million shares, worth less than 412 billion VND (19.7 million USD). Decliners outnumbered advancers by 152-113.

Kim Long Securities (KLS) became the most-active share nationwide, with 4.6 million traded, before closing up 6.1 percent to 10,500 VND (0.50 USD) per share.

Late last week, the company announced that it will reverse its decision earlier this month to exit the brokerage business, a move which had severely rattled the market.

However, the move was shelved due to objections raised by shareholders ahead of the general shareholders meeting. The meeting was cancelled, however, due to a lack of quorum and will be reconvened on April 15.

On the HCM Stock Exchange , the VN-Index rose 0.39 percent to close at 459.52 points. Volume fell by 11 percent from March 25 to about 25 million shares, worth just 544.3 billion VND (26 million USD), the lowest level this month.

Many blue chips posted gains, however. Insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) and Vietinbank (CTG) each rose by over 3 percent, while PetroVietnam Finance (PVF), property developer Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG) and steelmaker Hoa Phat Group (HPG) each made gains of less than 1 percent.

Losers outnumbered gainers overall by 109-90. Saigon Securities Inc (SSI) and Sacombank (STB) were the most-active shares on the southern bourse, each with a volume of about 1.3 million shares. Both closed unchanged.

Foreign investors continued to be net buyers on March 28 on both exchanges, but for a net value of just 26 billion VND (1.2 million USD).

Viet Capital Securities Co analysts predicted that the market will continue to fluctuate within a narrow band with low liquidity in the near future as investors cautiously await a clearer trend.

"The market is in the shareholders' meeting season and investors are being gradually informed of corporate earnings' results. Investors at present are mostly looking to economic news which could give them a clearer picture of the nation's economic outlook," an analyst said./.