Shares edged lower during Thursday's trade as selling pressure persisted.

The VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) declined by 0.03 per cent to 1,376.48 points. The market's breadth remained negative with 268 stocks decreasing, while 108 stocks rose.

The liquidity was lower than yesterday as 332.6 million shares were traded on HoSE, worth more than VND9.8 trillion (US$425.8 million).

The market was still weighed by profit-taking activities, however gains in some large-cap stock helped cap the losses.

The VN30-Index fell by 0.13 per cent to 1,487.58 points. Of the VN30 basket, 20 stocks slid, while only eight stocks climbed and two stocks stayed unchanged.

Top five stocks influencing the market's trend were Vietcombank (VCB) down 1.28 per cent, Vinamilk (VNM), down 1.11 per cent, Investment And Industrial Development Corporation (BCM) down 2.01 per cent, Vinhomes JSC (VHM) down 0.27 per cent, and Masan Group (MSN) down 0.56 per cent.

The losses were capped by positive performance in Vietnam Rubber Group (GVR), Vietinbank (CTG) and VietnamPetro Gas (PVGAS, GAS). All these stocks jumped more than 1.7 per cent.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index also lost 0.41 per cent to 314.5 points. VNS