Shares struggle to maintain upward trend on Thursday morning due to a rise in coronavirus death cases reported in the country. — Photo tinnhanhchungkhoan.vn

Shares struggle to maintain upward trend on Thursday morning due to a rise in coronavirus death cases reported in the country.

A 67-year-old woman died of COVID-19 early Thursday morning, Việt Nam's ninth fatality so far.

The benchmark VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange edged up 0.1 per cent to end morning session at 838.61 points.

It had gained 1.24 per cent to close Wednesday at 837.80 points.

More than 150.7 million shares were traded on the southern exchange, worth VNĐ2.3 trillion (US$99.7 million).

The blue-chip index VN30 lost 0.09 per cent to 780.01 points.

Twenty-three of the 30 largest stocks by market capitalisation and trading liquidity in the large-cap basket increased while four declined.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index went down 1.03 per cent to end Thursday morning at 112.84 points.

It had risen 1.35 per cent to end Wednesday at 114.02 points.

More than 26 million shares were traded on the two exchanges, worth VND274 trillion. — VNS