Shares gained in HCM City this morning after the gross domestic product for the first half of this year was announced to have grown 4.38 per cent compared to the same period last year.

On the HCM City Stock Exchange, the VN-Index edged up 0.54 per cent to 420.42 points. Advancers outnumbered decliners by 127-69.

The VN30, tracking the southern bourse's leading shares in terms of capitalisation and liquidity, added 0.65 per cent to 494.92 points thanks to positive gains of major stocks such as insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) - up 4 per cent, property developer Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG) - up 0.7 per cent and Vietcombank (VCB) and food processor Masan (MSN) - both increasing 1 per cent.

Meanwhile, only four stocks retreated.

The overall value of trades, however, dropped 15.3 per cent over yesterday morning's level to just VND406.2 billion (US$19.3 million) on a volume of 24.9 million shares.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index closed down nearly 0.7 per cent to 70.88 points.

Losers overwhelmed gainers by 113-57.

Only 11.6 million shares changed hands, totalling a 17.6 per cent lower market value of VND128.5 billion ($6 million).

The market will resume trading at 1 pm.