Shares continued to climb on both the national stock exchanges on January 14 with improved liquidity on the southern bourse.

More than 94.8 million shares were traded on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange with a total value of more than 1.57 trillion VND (74.76 million USD), both being 18 percent and 38 percent higher than the January 13 trading, respectively.

The VN-Index earned 0.23 percent to reach 522.31 points. The benchmark index has been increasing for eight straight days to approach the peak that was achieved in June 2013.

Strong profits were made on speculative stocks on January 14, while the blue chips received the foreign capital flow to remain the market stimulators.

The VN30-Index, tracking the southern city's 30 top shares by capitalisation and liquidity, gained 0.69 percent to reach 580.59 points.

Of them, 18 codes added values. Hoa Phat Group (HPG) increased 1,700 VND (0.08 USD) to reach 45,000 VND (2.14 USD) per share, PetroVietnam Low Pressure Gas Distribution (PGD) earned 1,400 VND (0.06 USD) to reach 41,000 VND (1.95 USD) per share, and PetroVietnam Drilling (PVD) rose by 2,000 VND per share to touch 68,500 VND (3.26 USD).

Stocks of petrol and oil sectors had stable growth during 2013 and made impressive gains recently with expected good business results.

Four losers included real estate giant Vingroup (VIC), Thanh Thanh Cong Sugar Corporation (SBT), PetroVietnam Transportation Corporation (PVT) and Southern Rubber Corporation (CSM).

Overall, on the southern bourse, 113 codes managed to gain while 91 lost.

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, blue chips also attracted foreign investors on January 14.

The HNX30-Index, comprising the northern bourse's 30 largest shares, advanced 0.91 percent to reach 136.15 points.

The HNX-Index increased 0.91 percent to reach 71.69 points on the trading of 47.4 million shares with a total trading value of 470 billion VND.

The HNXFF-Index, comprising stocks with a minimum free float rate of 5 percent, closed on January 14 at 71 points, 0.32 percent higher.-VNA