Overview of the midday trading session
Midway through the trading session on April 21, 2026 , the market continued to maintain its positive momentum, although divergence remained evident across many sectors. The VN-Index rose 1.1% to 1,858.0 points , reflecting the continued preference of capital flows for large-cap stocks on the HOSE exchange.
Liquidity is strongly concentrated in a few leading stocks such as HPG , NVL, and SHB , indicating that trading pressure remains anchored in stocks with a significant impact on the index. Meanwhile, both strong gainers and sharp losers are present, highlighting a selective approach to stocks rather than a uniform distribution.
Outstanding stock group
On the upside, many stocks recorded notable breakouts. Leading the way were STG , VPG , MDG , and STB , all rising by approximately 6.9% during the session.
Conversely, profit-taking pressure was more evident in some volatile stocks. Notable decliners included LGC ( -6.4% ), VNE ( -6.0% ), and PMG ( -5.5% ).
Liquidity leads the way.
In terms of trading volume, HPG continued to be the focus with approximately 72.8 million shares, followed by NVL with 30.1 million and SHB with 29.7 million shares. This signals that capital is still concentrated on leading stocks with high information coverage.
| Code | Mass | Note |
|---|---|---|
| HPG | 72.8 million | Leading in liquidity |
| Raw materials | 30.1 million | Trading was very strong. |
| SHB | 29.7 million | Attracting large capital flows |
Industry analysis
The banking sector continued to be one of the pillars of the index, with STB surging and maintaining strong trading activity. In the real estate sector, NVL and VHM both recorded positive developments, contributing to consolidating the market's recovery.
The financial services sector is relatively polarized, while technology, retail, and construction stocks have not shown uniform rebound. This suggests that capital is favoring short-term trends and stocks with specific catalysts.
HNX and UPCOM
On the HNX exchange, standout stocks included SMT (+ 9.8% ), CTT (+ 9.8% ), and SDC (+ 9.4% ), showing widespread upward momentum across several individual stocks. On UPCOM , the group of strong gainers surged even further, with PBT , LMC , and HNP all nearing their ceiling price increases of nearly 14.9% .
| Floor | Featured Code | Developments |
|---|---|---|
| HNX | SMT , CTT , SDC | A sharp increase around 9.4%–9.8% |
| UPCOM | PBT , LMC , HNP | A very sharp increase around 14.8%–14.9% |
Notable technical signals
Among the positive AI signals, the three stocks with the highest combined scores are MSH with 78.2 , DSE with 76.4 , and HDB with 75.7 . These stocks are showing relatively good technical condition compared to the overall market in the middle of the trading session.
Afternoon session outlook
Given the current context, the 1,858.0 point level of the VN-Index is a crucial point to watch closely for the remainder of the session. If capital continues to flow into large-cap stocks, the index may maintain its upward momentum; conversely, profit-taking pressure on hot-rising stocks could lead to greater market divergence towards the end of the session.
In the short term, investors should observe the VN-Index 's reaction around the current level, while also monitoring liquidity in leading stocks such as HPG , NVL, and SHB . These will be important signals to assess the potential for further gains in the afternoon session.