Divergence among large caps restrained the growth on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange with the VN-Index inching up just 0.33 per cent at 962.46 points in Friday morning.

Nineteen of the top 30 largest shares by market value and liquidity gained value while 10 lost.

Banks maintained their momentum when big banks on the southern bourse all increased.

Vietinbank (CTG), Military Bank (MBB), VPBank (VPB), Techcombank (TCB) and Sacombank (STB) increased by 1.1-2.5 per cent. Only Eximbank (EIB) and HDBank (HDB) decreased.

Notable losers this morning included Masan Group (MSN), down 2.7 per cent and budget airline Vietjet (VJC), down 1.9 per cent.

More than 283 million shares worth VND4.7 trillion (US$203 million) were traded on HCM City’s market.

Trading by foreign investors was optimistic with net buying value of nearly VND230 billion, of which Vietjet’s shares were a favourite with a net buy value of VND280 billion.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index edged down 0.13 per cent at 144.43 points.

More than 28 million shares worth VND431 billion were exchanged here.

The afternoon trade starts at 1pm. VNS