Stocks rose steadily on December 22 on the two exchanges following a record reduction in petrol prices. This is the 13th cut so far this year.

On the HCM Stock Exchange, the VN-Index advanced the most since mid-May, adding 2.76 percent to close the session at 537.54 points.

The VN30, which tracks the top 30 shares by market value and liquidity, also jumped 2.97 percent to end at 587.56 points.

Investors showed optimism following news of recovering global oil prices, a historic domestic fuel price cut and higher-than-expected GDP growth.

The number of gainers nearly tripled losers, led by blue chips.

PV Gas (GAS), the biggest stock in terms of market capitalisation, climbed almost 6 percent to 72,000 VND (3.36 USD). Other major large-caps including Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), Sacombank (STB), PetroVietnam Drilling and Wells Service Corp (PVD) and Hoa Phat Group (HPG) also hit their ceiling prices.

However, market liquidity was only half of December 19’s level, totalling just 99 million shares, while value declined 40 percent to 2.3 trillion VND (107.5 million USD).

FLC Group (FLC) was the most active stock with 5.8 million shares changing hands, finishing up 3 percent to end at 10,400 USD.

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index rose 1.51 percent to finish at 82.55 points, as advancers outnumbered decliners by 143-56. 147 codes closed unchanged.

The HNX30 which tracks performance of the top 30 stocks here by liquidity also gained 2.26 percent to settle at 161.09 points.

However, liquidity was low with just 41.4 million shares worth 558 billion USD (26.1 million USD) traded by the end of the session, down 30 percent in both market volume and value compared with December 19.

KLF Joint Venture Global Investment (KLF) was the most active code with 8.4 million shares traded, rising 0.85 percent to finish at 11,800 VND.

Foreign investors also returned as net buyers in the two markets, picking up a combined 173 billion VND (8.1 million USD) worth of shares, the highest value since August 30.-VNA