Photo shows investors at FPT Securities Company. The benchmark VN Index fell 0.1 per cent on profit-taking that hit financial-banking stocks. — Photo tinnhanhchungkhoan.vn

The VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange inched down 0.1 per cent to close at 681.73 points on Tuesday morning, driven down by financial and banking stocks.

The southern bourse index reversed after rallying 2.9 per cent over the last seven trading days.

Property developer FLC Group, which gained 0.8 per cent, was the most active stock, with around 2.9 million of its shares being traded.

In all, around 48.3 million shares worth VND1.16 trillion (US$52 million) were traded on the HCM Stock Exchange, which was pushed down by banking and financial stocks as they retreated from previous gains.

Vietcombank (VCB) and Sacombank (STB) inched down 0.1 per cent and 0.2 per cent, respectively, while Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BID), Vietinbank (CTG) and Eximbank (EIB) dropped between 0.6 per cent and 2.3 per cent.

Insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) and Sai Gon Securities Inc (SSI) also fell on profit-taking, both losing 0.7 per cent.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX Index inched up 0.1 per cent to close at 82.8 points. It has risen 1.7 per cent in the previous two sessions. Asia Commercial Bank (ACB) and Sai Gon-Ha Noi Bank (SHB) helped lift the bourse, with ACB rising 0.5 per cent and SHB gaining 2.1 per cent.

Around 17.8 million shares worth VND304.9 billion were traded on the northern bourse. — VNS