Shares declined again after two consecutive rising sessions as investors became cautious ahead of the National Day holiday on Sunday.

On the HCM City Stock Exchange, the VN-Index gave up 0.23 per cent to close this morning at 396.35 points. Trading value decreased over yesterday morning to just VND299 billion (US$14.2 million).

Blue chips were mixed. Software giant FPT Corp (FPT) and property developer Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG) almost hit ceiling prices, but real-estate giant VinGroup (VIC) lost 3.4 per cent and Eximbank (EIB) and Sai Gon Securities Inc (SSI) shed more than one per cent.

The VN30 tracking the top 30 shares on the southern bourse was also up 0.02 per cent overall, standing at 465.53 points.

Decliners outnumbered advancers by 106-73, led by blue chips.

No codes saw trades in excess of one million shares. Telecom equipment maker Sacom Investment Development Co (SAM) witnessed more than 800 million shares change hands, making it the most active code this morning. It closed flat at VND7,500 a share.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index finished 61.52 points, off 0.65 per cent from yesterday.

The HNX30 also decreased one per cent to 116.49 points.

Almost 18.5 million shares, worth VND182 billion ($8.7 million), changed hands this morning.
VNDirect Securities CO (VND) continued to be the most active code on total trades of nearly 4.8 million shares, dropping 2.9 per cent to a close of VND9,900 a share.
Trading will resume at 1pm.