Investors at the Tan Viet Stock Exchange in Ha Noi. — VNS Photo Doan Tung

HA NOI (Biz Hub) – The benchmark VN-Index retreated to some 672 points in the morning session, down 0.1 per cent from yesterday's close, as investors increased selling to earn short margin profits.

The index rose 2.2 per cent in the last three sessions.

The market was neutral. Of 310 stocks on the HCM Stock Exchange, 96 advanced, 93 declined, while 121 closed unchanged.

Blue chips were mixed.

Some stocks maintained their rise, including dairy firm Vinamilk (VNM), real estate VinGroup (VIC) and steelmaker Hoa Phat Group, but others declined following several consecutive positive sessions, such as Masan Group (MSN), insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) and lenders BIDV (BID) and Vietinbank (CTG).

Trades focused on the shares of real estate and steel manufacturing companies, with seven of the top 10 most active codes from these firms.

A total of 48 million shares worth nearly VND1.3 trillion (US$58.3 million) were traded in the HCM City market.

On the other hand, the HNX-Index on the smaller exchange in Ha Noi increased 0.6 per cent to end the morning session at 84.2 points.

Liquidity was low here with just nearly 27 million shares worth VND336 billion traded.

The afternoon session starts at 1pm. – VNS