Shares fell on the Hanoi Stock Exchange on Jan. 17, with the HNX-Index losing 0.8 percent of its value from the previous day's session before concluding the day at 56.55 points.

The value of trades on the Hanoi bourse decreased 18.7 percent to 158.1 billion VND (7.5 million USD) on a volume of nearly 19.4 million shares. Decliners outnumbered advancers by 121-85.

VNDirect Securities Co (VND) surpassed Kim Long Securities (KLS) to become the most-active share with around 2.1 million changing hands.


On the HCM Stock Exchange, the VN-Index began to lose gains towards the end of the session, finally closing at 358.86, a mere 0.3 percent increase over Jan. 16.

Volume plunged by nearly 57 percent to just 348.76 billion VND (16.6 million USD) as volume reached 23.7 million shares. Losers outnumbered gainers by 125-91.

Among blue chips, insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) and Vietinbank (CTG) hit their ceiling prices, but the majority of large-cap shares retreated or closed unchanged. Food processor Masan Group (MSN) was at its ceiling price mid-way through the session but eventually closed down 2 percent.

Along with software giant FPT, MSN and CTG were heavily favoured by foreign investors.

Foreign investors were net buyers on both bourses on Jan. 17, picking up shares worth a combined net of 115 billion VND (5.5 million USD). Net buys of software giant FPT (FPT) alone accounted for 170 billion VND (8.1 million USD) of this figure./.