VINACHEM

HA NOI — Shares rose on the HCM City Stock Exchange but declined on the Ha Noi market, with trading volumes continuing depressed on both bourses.

On the southern exchange, the VN-Index closed at 415.77, a gain of 0.25 per cent over Friday's close, despite declines in value by a majority of codes.

The value of trades dipped by 8.4 per cent from Friday's level to just VND346.2 billion (US$16.8 million) on a volume of 19.3 million shares.

"This is the second consecutive session that trading volume has held below 20 million shares, and this will likely continue in the next few sessions," said Dang Anh, a securities analyst for a Ha Noi-based financial media company.

Of the 10 leading shares by capitalisation, five advanced, helping lift the VN-Index into positive territory. Real estate developer Vincom (VIC) hit its ceiling price of VND124,000 per share, while insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), software giant FPT, Eximbank (EIB) and Sacombank (STB) all closed up by 0.2-2.9 per cent. STB was the most-active share with around two million traded.

Vietcombank (VCB) also rose to its ceiling price as it reached the ex-date for shareholders to participate in VCB's dividend payout. The dividend will be paid in shares, increasing the overall number of VCB shares listed on the HCM City bourse, currently at around 163.2 million shares.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index fell by 0.7 per cent yesterday to close at 71.02 points. Market value jumped by 35.6 per cent compared to Friday's session to VND228.8 billion ($11.1 million), while the volume of trades also rose by 51.2 per cent to 24.2 million shares.

"However, this figure was mostly attributable to the bulk of 7.2 million Habubank (HBB) shares traded through the negotiation method," Anh said.

Kim Long Securities Co (KLS) was the most-active share, with 1.4 million shares changing hands. It closed the day down 1.9 per cent, while losers outnumbered gainers overall on the northern bourse by 165-71. — VNS