The index fell 0.2 per cent to close at 606.3 points, as large-cap shares slowed down. — VNS Photo Gia Vi

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Viet Nam's benchmark VN-Index fell below 610 points after exceeding this level in early trading.

The index fell 0.2 per cent to close at 606.3 points, as large-cap shares slowed down.

Among blue chips on the HCM Stock Exchange, Vietcombank (VCB), Vietinbank (CTG), Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID), and software producer FPT Corp (FPT), besides confectionery Kinh Do Corp (KDC) continued to maintain modest growth, but dairy giant Vinamilk (VNM), private equity Masan Group (MSN) and Sacombank (ST) declined.

The losers outnumbered the gainers on the HCM City market, with 119 stocks falling, 60 advancing and 130 closing unchanged.

Liquidity was low, with more than 51.5 million shares, worth VND955 billion (US$42.6 million), being traded by the end of the morning.

Real estate FLC Group (FLC) was the most active stock here, with 4.3 million of its shares being traded at VND7,000 each.

On the smaller bourse in Ha Noi, the HNX-Index also decreased 0.4 per cent to end at 81.9 points, with the losers being more than double the number of gainers.

More than 26 million shares, worth VND331 billion ($14.8 million), were exchanged here.

The afternoon session will start at 1pm. — VNS