Shares continued to rise on the HCM City Stock Exchange this morning. However, the rally was modest.

The benchmark VN-Index ended flat, inching up only 0.04 per cent to 401.90 points. Market sentiment was quite bleak, with 50 gainers, 55 losers and 149 listed stocks closing unchanged.

The increase of the index was mainly thanks to insurer Bao Viet (BVH) – which continued to close at ceiling price – and Sacombank (STB), which rose 2.4 per cent.

Meanwhile, most blue chips dropped value with roughly two thirds of the 30 leading shares tracked by the VN30 falling. The VN30, however, still added 0.14 per cent to make 468.98 points.

The overall value of trades reached VND245.4 billion (US$11.6 million) on a volume of 17.5 million shares.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, shares tumbled for the second day in a row. The HNX-Index retreated more than 1 per cent to 58.06 points, as decliners outnumbered advancers by 130-34.

Only 12.3 million shares worth a meagre VND86.16 billion ($4.1 million) changed hands. This was the lowest level of morning trades since trading was extended to the afternoon.

The HNX30, tracking the bourse's top shares, also slid 1.3 per cent to 108.05 points.

The two exchanges will re-open at 1 pm.