Shares continued to rise on the southern bourse this morning, but slumps of blue chips on the northern exchange dragged the index down.

On the HCM City Stock Exchange, the VN-Index increased another 0.25 per cent to 392.07 points despite losers outnumbering gainers by 131-77.

Trading value jumped 27 per cent over yesterday morning's level, reaching VND336.35 billion (US$16.1 million).

Large-cap shares in the VN30 lifted the market, with insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) almost touching the ceiling price while property developers VinGroup (VIC) and Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG) and food processor Masan Group (MSN) all rose from 1-2.4 per cent.

The VN30 was up 0.21 per cent to 458.60 points.

Tan Tao Investment Industry (ITA) and telecom equipment producer Sacom Development Investment (SAM) are currently the most active codes, with each seeing more than 1.5 million shares traded. ITA was off 2.38 per cent to finish at VND4,100 a share while SAM closed flat at VND6,700 each.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index gave up 0.46 per cent to finish the morning's session at 53.61 points.

Trading exploded with the value of trades double yesterday's level, reaching nearly VND228 billion ($10.9 million).

Blue chips declined, except for Sai Gon-Ha Noi Bank (SHB) which was the most active code with over 11.6 million shares traded, gaining 1.92 per cent.

Property developer Sacomreal (SCR), PetroVietnam Construction (PVX) and VNDirect Securities (VND) all fell from 1.1-3.6 per cent.

Trading will resume at 1pm.