Domestic stocks edged down on Tuesday morning as profit-taking activities caused many large-cap stocks to fall further, especially in the banking sector.

The market benchmark VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) dropped 2.45 points, or 0.18 per cent, to 1,382.95 points.

The market's breath remained negative, while liquidity was lower than yesterday. Of which, investors poured VND12.3 trillion (US$540.6 million) into the market, equivalent to a trading volume of 450 million shares.

The index was weighed by losses in many pillar stocks. The VN30-Index, which tracks 30 biggest stocks on HoSE, extended losses, down 5.54 points, or 0.38 per cent, to 1,417.43 points.

Of the VN30 basket, 11 stocks increased, while 16 declined and three stayed flat.

Data compiled by vietstock.vn showed that VPBank (VPB) led the losing group, with a decrease of 1.76 per cent.

Other big stocks in the group were Vietnam Rubber Group (GVR), down 1.27 per cent, Techcombank (TCB), down 0.79 per cent, and Vincom Retail (VRE), down 1.97 per cent.

However, the losses were limited by gains in some stocks like PetroVietnam Gas (GAS), Vinhomes (VHM) and Sabeco (SAB), up in a range of 0.51 - 1.16 per cent.

On Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index also fell this morning, down 0.52 points, or 0.13 per cent, to 395.36 points. VNS