Shares fluctuated on the HCM City Stock Exchange this morning but the benchmark VN-Index still closed the first half session in the green, rising 0.11 per cent to 408.55 points.
Trading was sluggish, however, when just nearly 18 million shares, worth almost VND279 billion (US$13.3 million), were exchanged.

Market conditions were neutral with 77 codes climbing, 89 declining and other 89 closing unchanged.

Blue chips gained. Half of the top 30 shares by market capitalisation and liquidity gained value while only 4 sank.

The VN30 Index increased 0.2 per cent to stand at 483.44 points.

Ninh Van Bay Travel Real Estate (NVT) was the most active code on a total trade of over 1.9 million shares, sliding 4.55 per cent to close this morning at VND4,200 a share.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index closed at 68.16 points, off 0.06 per cent, on a total turnover of VND129.2 billion ($6.2 million).

Shares tracked by HNX-30 increased, however, gaining 0.42 per cent to close this morning at nearly 127.9 points.

Overall losers outnumbered gainers by 87-76 while another 234 shares were unmoved.
With nearly 3.2 million shares changing hands, VNDirect Securities Co (VND) was still the most active code, but the shares declined 6.12 per cent to a close of VND9,300 ($0.44).

The afternoon session will resume at 1pm