An investor watches share movements at Tan Viet Securities Co. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Shares slumped in the first session of this week on the twonational stock exchanges as leading stocks lost steam on investor caution aheadof the upcoming long Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.
The benchmark VN-Index on the HCM Stock Exchange was down 1.04 percent to closeat 677.94 points. The gauge decreased in the last two weekend sessions.
On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index inched down 0.34 percent to end at83.05 points.
The market condition was negative with the number of losing stocks overwhelminggaining ones by 272-137 while another 293 closed flat on the two markets.
Large-cap stocks led the market downturn as up to 24 of the top 30 largestshares by market capitalisation and liquidity in HCM City lost value and onlyfour advanced.
Banks were among the biggest losers despite impressive earnings reports.
The top four largest listed lenders on the HCM City’s bourse, such asVietcombank (VCB), Vietinbank (CTG), BIDV (BID) and Military Bank (MBB) wereall on the defensive.
Other leading stocks such as dairy giant Vinamilk (VNM), property developerVinGroup (VIC), PV Gas (GAS), IT company FPT Group (FPT), steelmakers Hòa PhátGroup (HPG) and Hoa Sen Group (HSG) also declined.
The money inflows seemed to be more cautious, which was partly evident in theweakening of leading stocks over the past two falling sessions, stock analystsat FPT Securities Co wrote in a note.
“The VN-Index may continue its downward adjustment this week, especially whenthe market lacks supporting news and the long Tet holidayis around the corner,” they said.
The stock market will enter a seven-day holiday after eight more sessions.Analysts at Vietnam Investment Securities Co said investors would likely sellshares ahead of the holiday to reduce risks as well as loan fees.
“This move can add pressure on the market in early sessions of the week andfocus on the shares which have surged in the past rally,” they wrote in a dailymarket report.
A total of nearly 125 million shares worth a combined 2.4 trillion VND (107million USD) were traded on the two markets.
Foreign investors were net buyers on January 16 for a total value of 73.6billion VND on the two exchanges, of which their buys in the Hanoi marketsurpassed the value on the HCM City exchange with 41.7 billion VND and 31.8billion VND, respectively. – VNA
VNA
