VNI recorded a second consecutive month of recovery. After retreating from psychological resistance at 1,000, the VNI gradually resumed an upward trend, closing September at a three-month high of 1,017, up 2.8% MTD. Small and mid-cap stocks made a large contribution to the increase with the VN-Small and VN-Mid jumping 6% MTD and 4.5% MTD, respectively. 11 out 12 sectors posted gains, led by the utilities sector, which was mainly driven by GAS (+12.3% MTD) amid soaring global crude oil prices.