Shares dropped on Monday morning and recorded a strong differentiation among large-cap stocks.

The benchmark VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange dropped 0.07 per cent to close at 973.36 points.

The HNX-Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange was down 0.29 per cent to end at 100.63 points.

Nearly 84.9 million shares were traded on the two local exchanges, worth VND2.2 trillion (US$95 million).

The large-cap VN30-Index lost 0.17 per cent to end at 884.40 points with 17 of the 30 largest stocks by market capitalisation declining while 10 gaining.

Large-cap stocks varied in prices.

Pillars like FLC Faros Construction's stock (ROS), Rạng Đông Light Source and Vacuum Flask (RAL), Bảo Việt Holdings (BVH), Phú Nhuận Jewelry Joint Stock Company (PNJ), Techcombank (TCB) and VPBank (VPB) dropped.

RAL decreased by 3.2 per cent to VNĐ75,000 per share. Rạng Đông JSC has admitted that all some 480,000 fluorescent light bulbs burnt in the recent fire contained liquid mercury, with a calculated volume 30 mg per bulb.

Other blue-chips like Coteccons Construction (CTD), Vietjet Air (VJC), Vietinbank (CTG), Masan Group (MSN) climbed and contributed to support the overall market.

MSN rose 0.9 per cent to VND74,700 per share. The company has just announced a plan to issue bonds worth of VNĐ1.5 trillion, to restructure debts.

Insurance, securities, retail, construction, logistics, banking were the worst-performing industries.

Meanwhile, food and beverage, real estate, information and technology, energy, agriculture, construction materials and seafood processing supported the stock market.

The afternoon trading session starts at 1pm. — VNS