Stocks continued to extend their losing streak this morning on both exchanges, raising concerns over a prolonged downtrend.

The benchmark VN-Index on the HCM City Stock Exchange lost another 0.33 per cent to stand at 381.97 points. Trading remained sluggish with just more than 12.5 million shares, worth VND172.9 billion (US$8.3 million).

Blue chips were mixed. Insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), Phu My Fertiliser (DPM) and software giant FPT Corp (FPT) rose by 0.6 to 1.4 per cent.

On the other end of spectrum, property developer Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG), steelmaker Hoa Phat Group (HPG) and Sacombank (STB) dropped by 0.5 to 2.1 per cent.

The VN30 tracking the top 30 shares on the bourse was down 0.52 per cent to stand at 449.89 points.

Real estate company Tan Tao Investment Industry (ITA) was the most active code this morning with just 843,000 shares, closing flat at VND3,900 a share.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index also gave up 0.5 per cent to close this morning's session at 51.32 points on a low value of just VND69 billion ($3.3 million).

Another property developer, Sacomreal (SCR), was the most active stock on the northern bourse on trades of 1.57 million shares, but the shares closed off 2.33 per cent at VND4,200 each.

Trading will resume at 1pm.