The VN-Index dropped 0.1 per cent to 417.65 points this morning against yesterday's close.

Trading value on the HCM City Stock Exchange was dry with just 26 million shares, worth VND479.5 billion (US$22.8 million), changing hands.

Losers, led by blue chips, doubled gainers. Large caps such as insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), food processor Masan Group (MSN), property developer VinGroup (VIC), dairy producer Vinamilk (VNM) and software producer FPT Corp (FPT) lost between 0.5-1.6 per cent.

Bank and financial shares were among the few gainers. Among those were Eximbank (EIB), Vietinbank (CTG), Vietcombank (VCB), PetroVietnam Finance (PVF) and Ocean Group (OGC) which gained in value 0.5-2.5 per cent.

The VN30 Index declined 0.13 per cent overall to stand at 492.11 points.
Telecom equipment provider SACOM Development and Investment (SAM) was the most active code on a total trade of nearly 1.57 million shares, closing unchanged at VND7,500 ($0.36) a share.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index closed off 0.61 per cent to 70.27 points on a turnover of VND156 billion ($7.4 million).

Decliners outnumbered advancers by 134-43.

PetroVietnam Construction (PVX), which saw 1.9 million shares changing hands, was the most active stock on the northern bourse. PVX rose 1.1 per cent to close at VND9,500