Despite slight gains in the morning, the benchmark indices finished lower on November 21 on both national stock exchanges.

However, liquidity reached a three-year high.

On the HCM City Stock Exchange, the VN-Index fell 0.39 percent to reach 503.54 points.

The total trading value topped at 2.425 trillion VND (115.47 million USD) on the exchange of 173.93 million shares, 67 percent and 62 percent higher than figures on November 20.

Meanwhile, the VN30-Index, tracking the southern bourse's top shares by capitalisation and liquidity, lost 0.53 percent to end at 563.45 points.

Losers overwhelmed gainers by 21-3.

Only PetroVietnam Drilling (PVD), PetroVietnam Fertilisers and Chemicals Corporation (DPM) and HCM City Infrastructure Investment (CII) advanced on November 21.

Da Nang Rubber Corporation (DRC) lost 1,100 VND (0.052 USD) to 39,800 VND (1.89USD) per share, Masan Group (MSN) lost 1,000 VND (0.049 USD) to 80,000 VND (3.8 USD) per share and Hoa Sen Group (HSG) lost 900 VND (0.42 USD) to 40,800 (1.94 USD) per share.

Other declines lost between 100 VND (0.0049 USD) to 600 VND (0.0285 USD) each.

FPT Group (FPT) was active on November 21, with its value reaching a 13-day high at 50,000 VND (2.38 USD) per share, however, ending 100 VND (0.0049 USD) lower.

According to FPT Securities, blue chips declined during the afternoon trading session, dragging down the benchmark index as some investors fell into the bull trap.

Overall, 128 stocks lost value, while 94 managed to advance.

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, strong selling also boosted liquidity to a record high.

More than 100 million shares changed hands, with a total value of 755.81 billion VND (35.99 million USD).

The HNX-Index closed 0.38 percent lower at 64.38 points. The HNX30-Index, composed of the capital city's 30 largest stocks, also tumbled 0.28 percent to 122.91 points.

On the northern bourse, small caps continued to attract speculative cash flow.

Meanwhile, Vietnam Investment Securities (IVS) said it did not expect much of the increasing trend of the market to continue after such high liquidity recorded on November 21.

The market would witness strong selling to reach a record trading volume, IVS forecast.-VNA