The VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange fell further on Friday morning as most of the large-cap shares were pulled down by investors’ selling. — Photo tinnhanhchungkhoan.vn

The VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange fell further on Friday morning as most of the large-cap shares were pulled down by investors’ selling.

The benchmark stock index inched down 0.2 per cent to close at 708 points. It had fallen 0.3 per cent on Thursday.

More than 92.8 million shares were traded on the southern bourse, worth VND1.9 trillion (US$85 million).

Large-cap stocks continued to weigh down the southern market as 18 of the 30 largest stocks by market capitalisation and liquidity suffered losses.

Of the 10 largest blue chips, seven were down, including Vietcombank (VCB), insurance-finance group Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), property developer Vingroup (VIC) and dairy producer Vinamilk (VNM).

Not only large-cap stocks, but mid-cap and penny shares also underperformed as investors tried to book profits following the recent good run of these shares.

Among these stocks, agriculture group Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG) and its sub-unit Hoang Anh Gia Lai Agriculture International (HNG) dropped 0.1 per cent and 2.6 per cent, respectively, while Consultancy Design and Urban Development JSC (CDO) slumped 7 per cent.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX Index ended up 0.2 per cent at 85.84 points, reversing from a decline of 0.8 per cent on Thursday.

The northern exchange saw more than 29 million shares being traded, worth VND260.9 billion. — VNS