Trades on the HCM Stock Exchange failed to sustain an early rally on Aug. 10, with shares falling in the closing minutes and the VN-Index ending the session at 385.96, a decline of 0.45 percent from the previous day's close.

The value of trades reached 485.4 billion VND (23.6 million USD) on a volume of 27.1 million shares.

Weak demand and the decline in the volume and value of Sacombank (STB) caused on Aug. 10's market plunge, said analysts of financial information website vietstock.vn. STB plunged 12.6 percent on Aug. 10 on a volume of just 99,000 shares, as the ex-date passed for shareholders to participate in the bank's dividend payout.

Of the 10 leading shares by capitalisation, those of real estate developer Vincom (VIC) dropped to floor price, while insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) fell by 3.4 percent and PetroVietnam Finance (PVF) dropped by 2.5 percent.

Four others managed gains of 0.7-2.1 percent, including Eximbank (EIB), real estate developer Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG), software giant FPT (FPT) and food processor Masan Group. Property trader Tan Tao (ITA) was the most-active share with over 1.1 million shares traded.

After several days of soaring as shares plunged, gold prices eased on Aug.10. August 9's decision by the State Bank of Vietnam to allow the import of 5 tonnes of gold helped ease the domestic price to 44.4 million VND (2,200 USD) per tael.

"However, we can only soothe the gold fever if world gold prices also decline," said Bao Viet Securities Co analyst Tran Hai Yen.

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index recovered 1.5 percent of its value on mixed trading to conclude the session at 66.62 points. Value fell by 31.5 percent from the previous session to 264.3 billion VND (12.8 million USD) on a volume of 26.75 million shares.

Kim Long Securities Co (KLS) was the most-active share nationwide, with 3.5 million changing hands./.