HA NOI – There were positive signs on the HCM City Stock Exchange this morning, but profit-taking activities had a negative affect on the Ha Noi bourse.

In HCM City, the VN-Index concluded this morning's session at 390.67 points, up 0.7 per cent over yesterday.

Trading volume remained unchanged compared to yesterday with 39.2 million shares changing hands, but the value of trades rose 22 per cent to VND622.5 billion (US$29.6 million).

Eight of the 10 leading shares by capitalisation posted gains, of which property developer Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG), steelmaker Hoa Phat Group (HPG) and PetroVietnam Finance (PVF) hit their ceiling prices. However, a decline of 2.8 per cent by heavyweight stock Masan Group (MSN) held back the Index.

Transactions still focused on penny and mid-cap stocks such as Becamex Infrastructure Development (IJC), PetroVietnam Transportation (PVT), Idico - Petroleum Trading Construction Investment (PXL), Tan Tao Investment Industry (ITA) and Viet Nam Electricity Construction (VNE), pushing them to the ceiling.

Decliners shaded advancers 109-110 overall.

Eximbank (EIB) was the most active in HCM City with nearly 2.5 million shares traded, closing up 1.4 per cent at VND15,000 ($0.71).

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index lost 0.2 per cent to close today at 60.47 points.

Both trading volume and value slumped over 20 per cent, totalling 30.6 million shares worth VND238.2 billion ($11.3 million)

Losers outnumbered gainers by 147-95.

PetroVietnam Construction (PVX) was still the most heavily-traded stock nationwide, with over 4 million shares changing hands. PVX rose 4 per cent to close at VND7,800. – VNS