The VN-Index plunged 2.2 per cent to 387.70 points this morning with the majority of listed shares diving on the HCM Stock Exchange.

The value of trades climbed 43.6 per cent over yesterday's level to VND664.5 billion (US$32.3 million). Trading volume also jumped 67.6 per cent to 41.4 million shares.

Blue chips did not help the VN-Index. Insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) and PetroVietnam Finance (PVF) both bottomed out, while seven other large-cap shares lost between 0.7-3.9 per cent.

Only real estate developer Vincom (VIC) marched 1.9 per cent higher to close the session at VND106,000.

Sacombank (STB) was the most heavily traded code with nearly 8.5 million shares exchanged.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index ended down 2.5 per cent to 65.63 points.

Losers outnumbered gainers by 265-25.

Market value saw a surge of 68.7 per cent compared to yesterday, reaching VND385.8 billion ($18.7 million) on a volume of 36.5 million shares.

Kim Long Securities Co (KLS) was the most-active stock, with about 4.5 million shares changing hands. KLS was followed by PetroVietnam Construction Co (PVX), which saw 3.5 million shares change hands.