Markets extended rallies on February 5 on the Hochiminh Stock Exchange but liquidity continued to drain, fueling concerns that investments flowing into the securities market were reduced after Circular 36 took effect early this month.

The new law set limits on loans for stock investments and conditions under which banks can give loans.

The benchmark VN-Index added 1.02 percent to close the February 5 session at 567.17 points.

Bank stocks returned to being the market's main source of momentum, as most of this share group gained value, including Vietcombank (VCB), up 5.44 percent; Vietinbank (CTG), up 5.56 percent; Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID), up 4.46 percent; and Eximbank (EIB), up 2.34 percent.

Blue chips were mixed and the VN30, which tracks the 30 shares with the highest market value and liquidity, increased just 0.42 percent to end at 591.28 points.

Liquidity declined, however, with the market volume dropping 20 percent from the previous session, totaling nearly 79 million shares, while the trading value fell 10 percent to 1.26 trillion VND (59 million USD).

By contrast, the HNX-Index on the Hanoi Stock Exchange inched down 0.03 percent to finish yesterday at 83.17 points as investors' sentiment was low as the liquidity sank to the seven-month low.

The market volume reduced another 15 percent from a day ago to reach over 30 million shares, while the value of trades decreased 10 percent to 392 billion VND (18.3 million USD).

The market condition was negative with 93 stocks declining, 78 advancing and 191 standing still.

Foreign investors concluded the day as net buyers in the HCM City market with a pick-up of 44.3 billion VND (2 million USD) in shares, but they turned heads to be net sellers in Hanoi and unloaded shares worth 1.4 billion VND (65,400 USD).-VNA