Blue chips on the HCM Stock Exchange tumbled on August 2, which made the VN-Index drop 0.9 percent to close the session at 401.95 points.

Of the 10 leading shares in terms of capitalisation, insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) bottomed out, while five others plunged between 1.7-4.1 percent.

Eximbank (EIB) closed the day unchanged. Three others of the biggest codes advanced, including property Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG) up 0.6 percent, food producer Masan Group (MSN) up 1.6 percent and Sacombank (STB) up 2.2 percent. However, the gains were not enough to lift the VN-Index.

Market value of the southern bourse, however, jumped 18 percent over the previous session's level to 436.4 billion VND (21.2 million USD) on a volume of 22.3 million shares.

STB was the most-active code in HCM City , with 1.5 million shares changing hands.

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index slumped by 1.4 percent to conclude the session at 68.60 points.

Trades were sluggish, with just 203.4 billion VND (9.9 million USD) worth of 21 million shares. That value only reached 86.3 percent of August 1's figure.

Kim Long Securities Co (KLS) was most heavily traded, 2.55 million of its shares exchanged. However, it ended down nearly 2 percent. PetroVietnam Construction Co (PVX) followed with 1.6 million shares./.