Vietnam's benchmark VN Index ended 0.42 percent up at 505.64 points on Friday as investors bought cheap shares, analysts said. Investors picked up stocks that fell due to profit taking in the previous session, especially those in the real estate sector, analyst Pham Van Khoa at Bao Viet Securities said.
"Sentiment must have been improved because the index would have dropped deeper after a fall in such a record-high volume on Thursday," Khoa said. The index would rise for several more days, should no negative news emerge, but it could face strong corrections later next week, Khoa added.
Shares in PetroVietNam Gas, the country's largest listed firm, led the gain, advancing 0.78 percent, followed by Petrovietnam Drilling and Well Services Co that rose 2.29 percent.