Shares on the HCM City Stock Exchange rose for a sixth day straight, pushing the market benchmark VN-Index to a four-week high.

Economic data was positive, from both this month and the first nine months of 2013, causing investors to regain confidence in the market. Manufacturing outperformed in September, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

The VN-Index rose 0.31 percent to end the day at 486.61 points.

The southern bourse saw 94 stocks advance, 101 tumble, 77 close unchanged and 32 remain untraded.
Foreign investors remained net buyers with 3.8 million shares changing hands on both bourses. They sold more than 302,000 shares in the Hanoi Stock Exchange.

The VN30-Index shed 0.06 percent to end at 545.49. Among its 30 members, 13 stocks advanced, seven declined and 10 did not move. Market volume changed slightly from the previous day to 47 million shares.

FLC Group (FLC), the most active stock on trades of 2.3 million shares, slipped 2.1 percent to finish at 4,700 VND per share.

PetroVietnam Transportation (PVT), came second with 2.3 million shares changing hands, closing unmoved at 8,500 VND.

On the HOSE, blue chips also gained ground. PetroVietNam Gas Joint Stock Corp (GAS) increased 1.5 percent to 67,000 VND per share and Vinamilk (VNM) went up 0.7 percent to 140,000 VND.

At the close, 18 stocks were traded at the upper limit, which was capped at seven percent by market regulators.

Stocks on the Hanoi Stock Exchange closed higher for a seventh straight day in a very volatile session. Investors managed to gain ground in the final minutes on improved economic data.

The HNX-Index rose 0.13 percent to close at 60.4.

The HNX 30 Index, composed of the bourse's top 30 stocks in term of capitalisation and liquidity, shed 0.14 percent to end at 111.79 points.

The volume changed slightly from the previous day, totaling 20.5 million shares worth 171 billion VND.
Sai Gon Thuong Tin Real Estate Joint Stock Company (SCR), the most active share with 2.2 million changing hands, closed unchanged at 5,700 per share VND.

PetroVietnam Construction (PVX) came second in liquidity with 1.9 million shares traded. It also closed flat at 3,000 VND per share.

Many other blue chips also ended unchanged. However, Vinaconex (VCG) slipped 1.2 percent to end at 8,500 VND per share.-VNA