Shares fluctuate on low volume

The VN-Index fluctuated throughout most of today\'s session, but closed up 0.35 per cent to 454.52 on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange.

Market volume advanced 22 per cent to 40.62 million shares and value almost 34 per cent.

But declines outnumbered advances 139-68.

Among the 10 largest capitalised shares, five – Sacombank (STB), Eximbank (EIB), Hoang Anh Gia Lai Co (HAG), FPT Corp (FPT) and Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) - advanced with the latter reaching its ceiling price.

Four – Vincom Co (VIC), Vietinbank (CTG), Phu My Fertiliser (DPM) and Hoa Phat Group (HPG) - posted losses.

Masan Group (MSN) remained unchanged.

Ocean Group (OGC) was still the most active stock on the southern bourse with a volume of almost 1.82 million shares. OGC slid 1.86 per cent to end at VND31,600 ($1.62).

Today, Vimedimex Medi-Pharma Joint Stock Company (VMD) listed more than 8.1 million shares for the first time on the HCM City bourse. VMD dropped to its floor price at VND3200 ($1.64) per share.

In Ha Noi, the HNX-Index declined by just 0.09 per cent to 127.29.

In all, 26.3 million shares worth VND630.6 billion ($32.3 million) were exchanged – a fall of 21.6 per cent in volume and 25 per cent in value.

Losers outnumbered gainers by an overwhelming 200-78.

Among 10 leading shares by capitalisation, only Asia Commercial Bank (ACB) rose in value and PetroVietnam Construction (PVX) closed unchanged.

The other 8 lost value.

Kim Long Securities (KLS) continued to be the most heavily-traded share nation-wide with almost 2.27 million shares changing hands. KLS lost 1.96 per cent of its value to an average of VND15,000 ($0.77) per share.