Shares tended to decline toward the end of this morning on the HCM Stock Exchange. — Photo TNCK

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Shares tended to decline toward the end of this morning on the HCM Stock Exchange, as large-cap stocks fell, despite a positive opening .

The benchmark VN-Index dropped from a peak of more than 575 points at about 9am, to stand at just 572.26, up 0.02 per cent over yesterday's close, when the market closed today.

The VN30, which tracks the top 30 shares by market value and liquidity, inched down 0.1 per cent to stand at 590.04 points.

Banks that provided the market momentum faltered this morning. Among the nine listed banks, only Eximbank (EIB) gained a tiny 0.9 per cent, while four stocks tumbled.

There were a few gainers among the oil and gas companies. PV Gas (GAS), the third largest stock on the market by market value, rose 0.2 per cent. Others such as Petrovietnam Southern Gas (PGS), PetroVietnam Technical Service (PVS) and Petroleum Equipment Assembly and Metal Structure (PXS) climbed 0.6 to 1.9 per cent.

The overall liquidity remained modest, with just 62 million shares worth VND932 billion (US$41.4 million) being traded by the end of the morning.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index advanced 0.31 per cent to end at 78.32 points, with the market value reaching VND288 billion ($12.8 million).

The index has been rising for five consecutive days.

The afternoon session will start at 1pm. — VNS