HA NOI (Bizhub) — Vietnamese shares ended mixed on the two local exchanges this morning, while banks dragged down markets as investors were cautious ahead of the American central bank's meeting.
The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange rose 0.2 per cent to close at 578.56 points, while the HNX Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange inched down 0.1 per cent to end at 80.01 points.
Banks fell into negative territory as investor confidence was low ahead of the American central bank's meeting this week.
Among banks, Vietcombank (VCB) and the Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BID) remained flat, while Vietinbank (CTG) and Sai Gon-Ha Noi Bank (SHB) dropped 0.6 per cent and 1.5 per cent, respectively.
The brokerage sector also declined, led by Sai Gon Securities Incorporation (SSI) and HCM City Securities Corporation (HCM), which fell 0.4 per cent and 1.5 per cent, respectively.
However, steel producers helped to lift the markets as the government issued a circular that imposed taxes on imported steel products.
Among these stocks, Hoa Sen Group (HSG) rose 1.8 per cent, Hoa Phat Group JSC (HPG) gained 0.7 per cent, and Viet Nam - Italy Steel JSC (VIS) increased by 1.4 per cent.
Both local markets traded more than 202 million shares, worth VND3.1 trillion (US$136.7 million). — VNS