Shares on the HCM City Stock Exchange finished the January 6 session in the black, with the benchmark VN-Index adding more than 0.7 percent to close at 509.10 points.

The VN30 Index, representing the performance of the southern exchange's top shares, also gained 0.6 percent to finish at 566.30 points.

Among the 30 blue chips, gainers overwhelmed losers by 21-3. Top gainers were Becamex Infrastructure (IJC), up 5.6 percent, Pha Lai Thermalpower (PPC) up 3.5 percent, logistic company Gemadept (GMD) up 3 percent and PetroVietnam General Services (PET) up 2.9 percent.

The VN-Index is facing the challenge of breaking through its resistance level of 515 points. Vo Dinh Khoi, analyst at ACB Securities Co, was confident in the success of the index, saying that in the medium term the HCM City market will prosper.

However, he remains more watchful about the HNX-Index, although it also posted gains on January 6.

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the index rose 1.26 percent, fetching 68.82 points on a turnover of over 320.7 billion VND (15.1 million USD) and improving 21 percent, as 40.5 million shares changed hands.

Meanwhile, the HNX30 Index, tracking the 30 largest shares in terms of capitalisation and liquidity, retreated 0.53 percent to end at 127.69 points.

Foreign investors were net sellers in Hanoi by 210 million VND (9,900 USD), but continued as buyers in HCM City, purchasing a net of 25.7 billion VND (1.2 million USD).

According to Bao Viet Securities Co's analyst Tran Hai Yen, due to the cautious seasonal buying during the Lunar year-end period, there will not be a surge in liquidity. "Investors should avoid buying too many shares," she said.-VNA