Vietnamese shares retreated on Wednesday morning, pushed by large-cap stocks in banking and brokerage sectors.

The benchmark VN Index on HCM Stock Exchange inched 2.48 per cent to close at 1,085.97 points. It had soared 1.7 per cent during the last trading day of the lunar year (February 13), closing at 1,059.73 points.

The HNX Index on Ha Noi Stock Exchange gained 1.89 per cent to end at 126.65 points. It edged up 1.88 per cent to end at 124.31 points on February 13.

The UPCOM Index on the Unlisted Public Company Market edged up 1.28 per cent to stand at 59.24 points. It edged up 1.83 per cent to finish at 58.50 points on February 13.

More than 133.9 million shares, worth VNĐ3.63 trillion (US$159.5 million), were traded on Tuesday morning.

The market was dominated by gaining stocks, which outstripped decliners by 367 to 153.

Among the best-performing industries were financial banking and brokerage.

Among the best gainers were JSC Bank for Investment and Development of Việt Nam, up 5.4 per cent; Bank for Foreign Trade of Việt Nam, increasing 4.7 per cent; Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade, moving up 5.3 per cent; Saigon Securities Incorporation, up 3.2 per cent and VNDirect Securities Corporation, climbing 2.4 per cent.

The afternoon trading session starts at 1pm. — VNS