Energy stocks drive markets down hinh anh 1Eximbank reported 123 trillion VND in total assets, and capital reached 101 trillion VND, an increase of 2.8 percent from the same term last year (Photo: cafef.vn)

Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnamese shares were mixed on the two local exchanges on April 4, while energy stocks dropped on lower oil prices.

The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange fell 0.5 percent to close at 555.82 points, extending a three-day decline of 2.5 percent.

On the contrary, the HNX Index finished almost unchanged at 78.49 points, rebounding from a four-day loss of 2.4 percent.

Global oil prices continued to slide and put pressure on energy stocks after Saudi Arabia said it will freeze its output only if Iran takes the same action.

US crude West Texas Intermediate (WTI) slipped 0.7 percent to trade at 36.54 USD a barrel and London-traded Brent crude fell 0.3 percent to trade at 38.55 USD a barrel.

US crude has fallen 7.2 percent over a week and Brent has lost 4.3 percent during the same period.

On the southern bourse, PetroVietnam Gas Corporation (GAS) and PetroVietnam Drilling and Well Service Corporation (PVD) were down 2.7 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively, while PetroVietnam Mud Drilling Corporation (PVC) on the northern bourse slumped 3.1 percent.

The stock markets also suffered as there was no business news good enough to boost investor confidence, Sai Gon-Hanoi Securities Corporation (SHS) wrote in a report.

Blue chips also helped drive markets down. Food producer Masan Group (MSN) declined by 1.4 percent after it was decided at a shareholder's meeting last week that the company will not pay dividends for 2015's business performance.

Seafood producer Hung Vuong JSC (HVG) slumped 4.9 percent after the company announced yesterday it will issue more than 37.8 million shares to pay dividends for last year's performance.

On the other hand, brokerage firms helped lift the markets, led by Vietnam Investment Securities Company (IVS) and VNDirect Securities Corporation (VND).

Both local markets traded nearly 168 million shares worth 2.15 trillion VND (95.8 million USD), a decrease of 27 percent from last week's daily trading value.-VNA
VNA