The VN-Index in Ho Chi Minh City fell by 0.05 percent to 628.77 points even as the HNX-Index in the capital city increased by 0.23 percent to 85.89 points.

The VN-Index on the Hochiminh Stock Exchange failed to retain the gains it chalked up on August 27, though trading value increased slightly to 2.74 trillion VND (129.2 million USD) on a total volume of 157.1 million shares. Turnover at the Hanoi Stock Exchange was 940.5 billion VND (44.3 million USD).

The VN30 Index also declined by 0.05 percent to reach 667.90 points. Nearly half of the 30 blue chips tracked by the index lost ground, including logistics company Gemadept (GMD), property developer Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG), private equity group Masan (MSN) and steel producer Hoa Phat (HPG), which fell by 1.2 to 8.1 percent.

None of the listed banking stocks added value. Only Eximbank (EIB) managed to stay unchanged at August 26 closing price.

Meanwhile, the price of realty companies' shares increased, including those of FLC Group (FLC), Tan Tao Investment (ITA), Hoang Quan Real Estate (HQC) and Kinh Bac City Development (KBC), along with Pacific Property and Infrastructure (PPI) and Duc Long Gia Lai (DLG).

The slight decline of the VN-Index on August 27 showed that market volatility failed to spark serious concern. Nguyen Quang Minh, analyst at vietstock.vn, said that if the index could break through 630 points, it would target around 680 points.

In the capital city, the growth momentum of the HNX30 Index, tracking the bourse's 30 leading shares in terms of capitalisation and liquidity, was weakened by increasing selling pressure. The index concluded at 175.90 points, up 0.05 percent.

Profit-taking weighed on the shares of Drilling Mud Corp (PVC), PetroVietnam Northern Gas (PVG), PetroVietnam Engineering Consultancy (PVE) and PetroVietnam Technical Services (PVS), along with subsidiaries of Song Da construction corporation.

However, the northern market was assisted by transactions on PetroVietnam Constructions (PVX), which hit the ceiling price and saw 22.4 million shares changing hands. Others that performed well were Petroleum Real Estate (PVL), Bao Viet Securities (BVS) and Vicostone (VCS).

Foreign investors on August 27 offloaded shares with a net value of 148.4 billion VND (7 million USD).-VNA