Share prices declined during this morning's session. On the HCM City Stock Exchange, the VN-Index shed 0.43 per cent to 397.52 points.

Profit-taking lifted the value of trades up 53.6 per cent over yesterday morning to VND585.4 billion (US$27.8 million). Trading volume also rose around 34 per cent to 38.9 million shares.
Of the 30 largest shares tracked by the VN30 in terms of capitalisation and liquidity, seven managed to post gains, and three of those hit their ceiling prices - steelmaker Hoa Phat (HPG) and property developers Dic Corp (DIG) and Tan Tao (ITA). However, the rally of these stocks failed to boost the VN30, which finally retreated 0.5 per cent to 469.27 points.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, decliners outnumbered advancers by 92-51 and the HNX-Index slid 0.44 per cent to 56.03 points.

Market value reached only 81 per cent of yesterday morning's level, or VND140.2 billion ($6.6 million) on a volume of nearly 22.4 million shares.
The HNX30 fell 0.56 per cent due to the weak performance of the Ha Noi bourse's blue chips, standing at just 106.21 points.

Afternoon trading will start at 1 pm.