Local shares kept growing on Tuesday morning amid the increase of profit taking pressure.

The benchmark VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange was up 0.41 per cent to close at 903.57 points.

The VN-Index gained 1.55 per cent on Monday.

The minor HNX-Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange slid 0.04 per cent to end at 120.05 points.

The northern market index soared 1.71 per cent in the first trading day of the week.

More than 377.5 million shares were traded on the two local bourses, worth VND4.86 trillion (US$209.3 million).

The stock market struggled with profit taking as investors sought profits from the market’s recent rallies.

The blue-chip tracker VN30-Index was up 0.31 per cent.

Half of the 30 largest stocks by market capitalisation and trading liquidity increased while 13 declined.

Among gainers in the large-cap basket were PetroVietnam Power (POW), insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), Eximbank (EIB), aviation firm Vietjet (VJC), and dairy producer Vinamilk (VNM).

On the other side, struggling stocks included Vietinbank (CTG), Vincom Retail (VRE), steel maker Hoa Phat (HPG), and PetroVietnam Gas (GAS).

The afternoon trading session starts at 1pm. — VNS