Benchmark indices finished higher on both national stock exchanges on November 20, following the display of strong liquidity in the afternoon session.

The VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange slightly gained 0.16 percent to reach 505.52 points. With more than 107.16 million shares traded, the total trading value hit 1.448 trillion VND (68.95 million USD).

The VN30-Index, composed of the southern bourse's largest shares by capitalisation and liquidity, rose 0.27 percent to 556.44 points. Advancers nearly doubled decliners by 15-8.

Gainers, including Vietcombank (VCB), Sacombank (STB), REE Corporation (REE), and PetroVietnam Transportation Corporation (PVT), earned between 100 VND (0.0048 USD) and 600 VND (0.028 USD) per share.

Also among the gainers were PetroVietnam Drilling (PVD), Hoa Phat Group (HPG), Da Nang Rubber Company (DRC), and real estate Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group (HAG).

Vinamilk (VNM) lost 1,000 VND (0.049 USD) to reach 141,000 VND (6.7 USD) per share, while Masan Group (MSN) dropped by 500 VND (0.023 USD), being traded at 81,000 VND (3.8 USD) per share.

Others losers included Bao Viet Group (BVH), Eximbank (EIB), FPT Group (FPT), and Bourbon Tay Ninh (SBT).

According to FPT Securities, the cash flow yesterday shifted focus from blue chips to small caps. Many stocks, the market prices of which were below 10,000 VND (0.48 USD) per share, reached their ceiling prices yesterday, especially among stocks in the real-estate sector.

In addition, speculative stocks in the mining sector also attracted investors on November 20, including Bac Giang Exploitable JSC (BGM), Binh Thuan Industrial Minerals (KSA), Na Ri Hamico (KSS), and Tay Bac Minerals Investment Company (KTB).

Overall, 159 codes in the southern bourse managed to increase, while 64 lost.

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index edged up 0.4 percent to 64.62 points.

The total trading value hit 346.38 billion VND (16.49 million USD) on the exchange of 45.3 million shares, with both rates higher than the November 19 figures.

The HNX-30 Index, tracking the capital city's 30 largest shares, also advanced 0.52 percent to 123.25 points. In the short term, the market will continue its upward trend, FPT Securities forecast.-VNA