Investors sold off stocks due to the US decline on May 11, dragging the VN-Index under the 520 resistance mark to end at 519.6 points on May 12.

The index fell 2.76 percent with only 10 among 228 listed stocks advancing, most of them penny stocks like Sieu Thanh Corp (ST8), House Vietnam Co (NVN) or Dong A Plastic (DAG).

Meanwhile, big stocks fell, typically Vincom (VIC), PetroVietnam Finance (PVF) and Masan Group (MSN) each suffering a 5-per-cent loss, the widest regulated trading band for each stock in a session.

Sai Gon Securities Inc (SSI) remained the most impressive on May 12, with 3.2 million shares changing hands, accounting for 4.94 percent of the total market volume of 67.6 million shares, totalling 2.4 trillion VND (126.3 million USD). The HNX-Index fell 4.22 percent, after May 11's bounce, to close the day at 174.74 points. Value of day trades rose to 1.9 trillion VND (100 million USD) on combined trades of 53.3 million shares.

The 10 biggest capitalised stocks included two advancers and eight decliners, of which PetroVietnam Insurance (PVI) slumped 5.96 percent.

Foreign traders turned positive in HCM City market by a meagre net-buy of 70,000 shares. Meanwhile, they began seeking profit in Hanoi , selling off over 200,000 shares to earn a value of 5.1 billion VND (268,421 USD)./.