Local shares ended mixed in the early session. Securities stocks ran into profit-taking after recent gains. — Photo vietnamplus.vn

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Vietnamese shares ended mixed in the early session, while banks maintained good form to lift markets.

The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange edged up 0.3 per cent to close at 677.25 points.

The HNX Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange closed down 0.3 per cent to reach 87.12 points.

Banks, insurance companies and plastic producers were the sectors that drove up markets.

The banking sector was lifted by Vietinbank (CTG) and the Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BID), which rose 4.2 per cent and 1.6 per cent, respectively.

Among insurance firms, the strongest gainers were Bao Minh Insurance Corp (BMI), BIDV Insurance Corp (BIC) and Bao Viet Holdings (BVH). They jumped between four per cent and 4.9 per cent.

However, energy stocks such as PetroVietnam Gas Corp (GAS), PetroVietnam Drilling and Well Service Corp (PVD) and PetroVietnam Technical Service Corp (PVS) remained in negative territory as oil prices plunged during Wednesday's session.

Securities stocks such as Sai Gon Securities Inc (SSI) and HCM City Securities Corp (HCM) ran into profit-taking activity after recent gains.

Investors traded 126.2 million shares, worth VND2.22 trillion (US$98.8 million). — VNS