The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange closed almost unchanged at 559.99 points, and the HNX Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange fell 0.3 per cent to end at 76.22 points. — VNS Photo Doan Tung

HA NOI (Bizhub) — Vietnamese shares fell slightly on both local markets this morning, while investors continued to be affected by bad news from international stock markets.

The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange closed almost unchanged at 559.99 points, and the HNX Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange fell 0.3 per cent to end at 76.22 points.

The market was driven down by food and beverage producer Masan Group (MSN), which fell two per cent; Vietcombank (VCB), which was down 0.7 per cent; insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), which lost one per cent; and PetroVietnam Gas Corporation (GAS), which inched down 0.3 per cent.

On the positive side, property developer Vingroup JSC (VIC), the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID) and Vietinbank (CTG) were the stocks that lifted the market. VIC was up 0.8 per cent, BID gained 2.1 per cent and CTG added 0.6 per cent.

Speculative stocks attracted the attention of investors. Hoang Anh Gia Lai JSC (HAG) was the most active one, with nearly 11 million of its shares being traded, surging 6.9 per cent.

Market liquidity remained low compared with last year's average trading volume. The stock markets traded more than 75 million shares, worth more than VND1 trillion (US$46 million). — VNS