The VN-Index inched down 0.1 per cent to 969.11 points on Tuesday morning under heavy profit-taking selling. — Photo daututhanhcong.com

Shares opened in a positive zone in the early Tuesday trade session but slid by the end of the morning trade under heavy profit-taking selling pressure.

The VN-Index inched down 0.1 per cent to 969.11 points, despite touching 975 points when the market opened.

Selling pressure increased in most of the large caps after a long rally, driving 20 of the top 30 largest shares by market value and liquidity on the HCM Stock Exchange down, while only 10 maintained growth.

FLC Faros Construction (ROS) was the biggest loser, down 6.5 per cent.

The largest listed company, Vinamilk (VNM), also decreased 1.6 per cent. Others such as Mobile World Group (MWG), Military Bank (MBB) and Hau Giang Pharmaceutical (DHG) all slid by over 1 per cent.

On the positive side, PV Gas (GAS), brewer Sabeco (SAB), VinGroup (VIC) and Hoa Sen Group (HSG) continued rising, with a growth of 0.8-3.4 per cent each.

Liquidity maintained a high level, with 142.4 million shares worth VND3.5 trillion (US$153.5 million) being traded in the HCM City market.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index declined by a steeper 1.15 per cent to 115.36 points, with nearly 45 million shares worth VND592.5 billion exchanged.

The afternoon trade session starts at 1pm. – VNS