Shares closed higher on the HCM City stock exchange this morning but still declined on the Ha Noi bourse.

In HCM City, the benchmark VN-Index finished this morning's session at 411.03 points, 0.07 per cent higher than yesterday's close.

Market value was dry, totalling just VND298.6 billion (US$14.2 million), on a total volume of 300.7 million shares.

No stocks saw trades in excess of 1 million shares. Eximbank (EIB) with over 711,000 shares changing hands became the most active stock this morning, closing up 0.5 per cent at VND18,400 ($0.88) a share.

Blue chips were mixed. Amongst the top 30 shares by market capitalisation and liquidity, 10 climbed, five sank while others closed unchanged.

The VN30 Index rose 0.22 per cent to stand at 486.47 points.

However, decliners outnumbered advancers by 110-67 overall.

The pace of declines slowed on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, with the HNX-Index losing just 0.06 per cent this morning to a close of 68.04 points.

Trading value was a modest VND154.4 billion ($7.4 million) on a total volume of nearly 18.7 million shares.

Losers doubled gainers on the northern bourse.

VNDirect Securities Co (VND) was the most active share this morning on trades of nearly 3.8 million shares, rising 1.1 per cent to close at VND9,400 ($0.05) .

The afternoon session will resume at 1pm.