Investors follow trading session at the Tan Viet Securities. — Photo Doan Tung

HA NOI – Shares moved sideways in morning trade as money flow continued to focus on mid-cap and penny stocks.

The benchmark VN-Index on the HCM Stock Exchange opened low but managed to inch up 0.1 per cent at 677.2 points by the end of the morning session. The index also increased 0.1 per cent yesterday.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index was down 0.5 per cent to close at 81.9 points. It rose 0.1 per cent in the previous session.

Overall market condition was negative with 257 out of 693 stocks declining, while 135 advanced.

Blue chips were mixed. Nineteen of the top 30 shares by market capitalisation dropped, while only eight increased, led by shares in the sectors of banking, securities, oil and gas and steel production.

Money was focused on low-valued stocks as the top 10 most active stocks on the two exchanges were below VND10,000 per share.

Realty firms attracted the most attention. FLC Group (FLC), Tan Tao Investment and Industry (ITA), Hoang Quan Consulting-Trading-Service Real Estate (HQC), Sacomreal (SCR) and PetroVietnam Construction (PVX) were all among the most heavily-traded stocks in morning trade.

A total of 90.6 million shares worth over VND1.4 trillion (US$63.6 million) were exchanged in the two markets.

Afternoon trade starts at 1pm. – VNS