Shares slumped in the first session of this week on the two national stock exchanges as leading stocks lost steam on investor caution ahead of the upcoming long
Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.
The benchmark VN-Index on the HCM Stock Exchange was down 1.04 per cent to close at 677.94 points. The gauge decreased in the last two weekend sessions.
On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index inched down 0.34 per cent to end at 83.05 points.
The market condition was negative with the number of losing stocks overwhelming gaining ones by 272-137 while another 293 closed flat on the two markets.
Large-cap stocks led the market downturn as up to 24 of the top 30 largest shares by market capitalisation and liquidity in HCM City lost value and only four advanced.
Banks were among the biggest losers despite impressive earnings reports.
The top four largest listed lenders on the HCM City’s bourse, such as Vietcombank (VCB), Vietinbank (CTG), BIDV (BID), Military Bank (MBB) were all on the defensive.
Other leading stocks such as dairy giant Vinamilk (VNM), property developer VinGroup (VIC), PV Gas (GAS), IT company FPT Group (FPT), steelmakers Hoa Phat Group (HPG) and Hoa Sen Group (HSG) also declined.
The money inflows seemed to be more cautious, which was partly evident in the weakening of leading stocks over the past two falling sessions, stock analysts at FPT Securities Co wrote in a note.
“The VN-Index may continue its downward adjustment this week, especially when the market lacks supporting news and the long Tet holiday is around the corner,” they said.
The stock market will enter a seven-day holiday after eight more sessions. Analysts at Vietnam Investment Securities Co said investors would likely sell shares ahead of the holiday to reduce risks as well as loan fees.
“This move can add pressure on the market in early sessions of the week and focus on the shares which have surged in the past rally,” they wrote in a daily market report.
A total of nearly 125 million shares worth a combined VND2.4 trillion (US$107 million) were traded on the two markets.
Foreign investors were net buyers yesterday for a total value of VND73.6 billion on the two exchanges, of which their buys in the Ha Noi market surpassed the value on the HCM City exchange with VND41.7 billion and VND31.8 billion, respectively. – VNS