The market closed the last trading session of 2013 in the black on both national stock exchanges, and forecasts were positive for the new year.

On December 31, 2013, the VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange earned 0.86 percent to attain 504.63 points.

However, liquidity was low due to the approaching holiday. Nearly 61 million shares changed hands with a total value of only 869.5 billion VND (41.4 million USD).

The VN30-Index, tracking the southern city's 30 largest shares by capitalisation and liquidity, gained 1.05 percent to reach 562.2 points, thanks to gains for 26 out codes.

PetroVietnam Transportation (PVT) on December 31 increased 700 VND (0.03 USD) per share to hit its ceiling price.

Only logistics company Gemadebt (GMD), Masan Group (MSN), PetroVietnam Low-Pressure Gas Distribution (PGD) and Vinamilk (VNM) kept their reference prices on December 31, and the southern bourse saw no blue chips losing.

Overall, 182 codes in the southern bourse added value, while 43 codes lost.

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index rose 1.32 percent to 67.84 points but with low liquidity.

With 39.8 million shares traded, the total value reached 275.9 billion VND (13.13 million USD).

The HNX30-Index, comprising the top 30 shares of the northern bourse, gained 1.88 percent to reach 125.98 points.

The increases in benchmark indices during the last trading session of 2013 was attributed to the release of information that the Prime Minister would approve a regulation allowing foreign investors to hold 60 percent of stakes in several listed companies, an increase from the current 49 percent they are able to hold.

However, for short-term fluctuations, FPT Securities noted that risks existed and domestic investors should wait for the reactions of the market when the room for foreign investors increases.

The December 31 rally also marked a successful year for the Vietnamese stock market, with strong long-term recoveries, according to FPT Securities.

Last year, the VN-Index soared 21.97 percent over the end of 2012, and the HNX-Index jumped 18.83 percent. Many analysts forecast a good year for the stock market in 2014.

On average, nearly 1.4 trillion VND (66.67 million USD) was poured into the market each session, with more than 100 million shares traded last year.-VNA