The VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) stayed flat at 1,465.04 points. Photo cafef.vn

Shares struggled on Thursday morning on increased selling pressure but heavy-weight stocks still maintained good momentum.

The VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) stayed flat at 1,465.04 points.

The market's breadth was negative, with 246 stocks declining while 202 stocks increased.

More than 862.5 million stocks were traded on the southern market, worth nearly VND25.5 trillion.

Meanwhile, foreign investors net sold a value of VND570 billion on the southern bourse.

The VN30-Index, tracking 30 biggest stocks on HoSE, fell 0.25 per cent, to 1,520.02 points.

Of the VN30 basket, 6 stocks climbed, while 21 slid and three ended flat.

Supporting the market were Phu Nhuan Jewelry (PNJ), Saigon-Hanoi Bank (SHB), Phat Dat Real Estate (PDR), Novaland (NVL) and Vietnam National Petroleum Group (PLX).

On Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index fell 0.15 per cent, to 437.60 points. VNS