The VN-Index closed almost flat at 568.32 points at the end of the April 17 session, erasing early gains. This was caused by unexpected declines of several large-cap shares.

PV Gas (GAS), the biggest stock in terms of market capitalisation on the Hochiminh Stock Exchange, fell 1.48 percent after rising 0.74 percent.

The company estimated that its revenue this year could drop by 20 percent and profits drop by 30 percent compared with yearly forecasts if crude oil prices were about 60 USD a barrel. (GAS business plans were based on the assumption that oil prices would be around 100 USD a barrel).

According to analysts at FPT Securities Co, this fall could be the result of profit-taking pressure after solid gains in past sessions.

However, as 12 of the top 30 shares by market value and liquidity on the exchanges gained value, the VN30 also ended 0.68 percent higher at 599.12 points.

Liquidity improved as both market volume and value went up 10 percent over the previous day, totalling 107.3 million shares worth 2.06 trillion VND (95.4 million USD).

Tan Tao Investment Industry Corp (ITA) was the most active code with 10.6 million shares, leaping 4.4 percent to finish at 7,200 VND a share.

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index rose for a third day, edging up 0.25 percent to end at 83.61 points.

The volume of trades also increased slightly against the previous session, reaching 57 million shares worth 728 billion VND (33.7 million USD).

F.I.T Investment Co (FIT) remained the most heavily-traded stocks with trades of 9.2 million shares, climbing 3.4 percent to settle at 16,600 VND (0.78 USD) a share.

Solid buys by foreign investors also supported the market. Foreigners picked up another 565.4 billion VND (26.2 million USD) worth of shares on the two markets.-VNA