On the HCM Stock Exchange, the VN-Index decreased 0.5 per cent to close at 597.3 points. Meanwhile, the HNX-Index on the smaller bourse in Ha Noi fell 0.24 per cent to end at 81.74 points. — VNS Photo Doan Tung

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Shares declined on the two markets this morning, when most of the blue chips sank.

On the HCM Stock Exchange, the VN-Index decreased 0.5 per cent to close at 597.3 points. Meanwhile, the HNX-Index on the smaller bourse in Ha Noi fell 0.24 per cent to end at 81.74 points.

Banks were the largest losers, as six of the nine listed banks slumped and the three others closed unchanged. Military Bank (MBB) fell the maximum with a 1.5 per cent decrease. Others declined between 0.4 per cent and one per cent.

Dairy producer Vinamilk (VNM), Viet Nam's largest stock by market capitalisation, also dropped almost one per cent, which further weighed down the market.

The overall condition was negative, with 32.5 per cent of the 680 trading stocks losing value, while 16.6 per cent gained.

Almost 107 million shares, worth more than VND1.65 trillion (US$73.7), were traded on the two markets by the end of the morning.

Property developer FLC Group (FLC) was leading the trading, with 11.2 million of its shares being exchanged, becoming the most active stock nationwide. Its price fell 1.1 per cent to stand at VND9,000 per share.

The afternoon session will start at 1pm. — VNS