Vietnamese shares declined on Monday morning, dragged by large-cap companies.

The benchmark VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange fell 0.36 per cent to end at 773.88 points.

The VN-Index had gained a total of 1.28 per cent in the previous three trading days.

The HNX-Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange lost 0.51 per cent to close at 106.43 points.

The northern market index had made a three-day increase of total 2.17 per cent.

More than 220 million shares were traded on the two local exchanges, worth VND3.12 trillion (US$133 million).

Large-cap stocks weighed pulled the market down as investors looked to realise their profits after a three-day increase.

The large-cap VN30 and HNX30 indices were down 0.30 per cent and 0.81 per cent, respectively.

Among the declining large-cap stocks were Vietcombank (VCB), Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID), realty firm Vincom Retail (VRE), Sai Gon-Ha Noi Securities (SHS), Sai Gon-Ha Noi Bank (SHB), and PetroVietnam Coating Corp (PVB).

On the other hand, well-performing stocks included dairy producer Vinamilk (VNM), Vingroup (VIC), steel maker Hoa Phat (HPG), the Vietnam Rubber Group (GVR), and Vicostone (VCS).

The afternoon trading session starts at 1pm. – VNS