The VN-Index on the HCM City Stock Exchange fell 0.07 per cent to 497.08 points although gainers outnumbered losers.

Trading value declined slightly over Thursday's session to reach VND664.9 billion (US$31.3 million) as trading volume fetched 42.5 million shares.

The VN30, tracking the top 30 stocks on the bourse, dropped 0.15 per cent to finish at 554.73 points despite gains by the majority of the blue chips.

Among the losers were big names such as insurer Bao Viet (BVH), property giant Vingroup (VIC), Phu My Fertiliser (DPM) and Vietcombank (VCB).

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index rose more than 0.7 per cent to 62.08 points. Gainers overwhelmed losers by 102-69.

The HNX30, composed of the exchange's 30 largest shares in terms of capitalisation and liquidity, also increased 0.36 per cent to 115.84 points.

The total value of trades, however, decreased over 13 per cent compared to Thursday to VND136 billion ($6.4 million) on a volume of 17.4 million shares.

"Technical indicators show that indices will not have many changes in the coming sessions," said FPT Securities Co analysts in yesterday's note. "The market really needs a boost so that investors can get out of their cautious psychology."

Market movements remained sluggish with declining liquidity, and they could not identify whether there would be an uptrend or a downtrend.

Foreign investors were net buyers yesterday on both stock exchanges, picking a combined value of VND18.55 billion ($875,000). — VNS