Shares edged lower on Wednesday morning due to persistent selling force.

The benchmark VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) fell 14.64 points, or 1.25 per cent, to 1,151.9 points.

With more stocks declining, the market's breadth remained in a negative zone. Meanwhile, liquidity improved compared to the previous session but stayed at low levels, of which matching value on HoSE reached over VND4.1 trillion (US$174.6 million).

The VN30-Index, which tracks 30 biggest stocks on the southern bourse, also plummeted 14.59 points, or 1.23 per cent, to end the morning trade at 1,167.87 points.

Strong selling force continued to pressure investors' sentiment.

Realty, manufacturing and retail industries led the downtrend this morning, with Vingroup (VIC) losing the most in market capitalisation, down 3.61 per cent.

Other stocks weighing on the market were Vinhomes (VHM), Becamex (BCM), Masan Group (MSN), and Mobile World Investment Corporation (MWG).

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index posted a decrease of 1.97 points, or 0.77 per cent, to 253.55 points. VNS