The benchmark VN-Index edged down 0.19 per cent to close at 550.35 points. — VNS Photo

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Blue chips fell, dragging down shares on the HCM Stock Exchange this morning.

The benchmark VN-Index edged down 0.19 per cent to close at 550.35 points, while the VN30, tracking the top 30 shares by market value and liquidity, dropped 0.43 per cent to end at 580.49 points.

The losers included VinGroup (VIC), Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), Sacombank (STB) and FPT Corp (FPT), as well as Hoa Sen Group (HSG), Vietinbank (CTG) and PetroVietnam Drilling and Wells Service Corp (PVD).

Liquidity was modest, with more than 42 million shares worth VND940 billion (nearly US$44 million) being traded by the end of the morning.

Only four codes saw trading of more than one million shares. HAI Agrochem Co (HAI) led the trading with 4.4 million of its shares being exchanged at VND12,600 ($0.59) each. On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index finished at 82.43 points, marking a slight increase of 0.04 per cent compared with Friday's close.

The market condition was negative however, with 71 stocks falling, 60 rising and 235 staying flat.

Only 14 million shares worth VND173 billion ($8.1 million) were traded on the market. KLF Joint Venture Global Investment Co (KLF) was the most active stock, with the trading of 2.7 million of its shares. But its price fell one per cent to end at VND10,300 each.

The afternoon session will start at 1pm. — VNS