Local shares were volatile this morning as blue chips ended in mixed directions. — Photo vietnamplus.vn

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Vietnamese shares remained volatile in the early session while market trading liquidity was low as investors showed caution before exchange-traded funds revealed their new investment portfolios this weekend.

The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange inched up 0.1 per cent to close at 660.31 points, while the HNX Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange fell 0.6 per cent to end at 83.33 points.

Investors seemed careful while placing orders as they waited for the exchange-traded funds to officially announce their new investment portfolios this weekend.

More than 65 million shares were exchanged in the morning, worth nearly VND1.1 trillion (US$48.4 million), lower than the previous morning's trading values.

The market was lifted by Vietcombank (VCB) and insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), while dairy firm Vinamilk (VNM), property group Vingroup JSC (VIC) and Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BID) declined.

VCB rose 2.5 per cent and BVH edged up 0.2 per cent. On the other hand, VNM dropped 0.7 per cent, VIC slid 0.1 per cent and BID was down nearly 1 per cent.

Oil stocks were mixed with PetroVietnam Gas Corp (GAS) and PetroVietnam Mud Drilling Corp (PVC) making gains. GAS increased by 0.3 per cent and PVC added 2.6 per cent. PVC has announced it will pay a 14 per cent dividend for last year's performance. — VNS