Shares closed in the red on October 19 on both national stock exchanges, following heavy selling.

On the HCM Stock Exchange, the benchmark VN-Index edged down 0.07 percent, reaching 398.23 points. Most of the shares finished unchanged from the previous day, while only 65 listed codes managed to advance.

Trading value and volume fetched 645.8 billion VND (30.7 million USD) and 52.6 million shares, respectively. That translated into a 43.5 percent increase in value and 50.3 percent rise in volume compared to the previous trading day.

The VN30 – representing the bourse's 30 largest stocks – retreated 0.15 percent to 471.26 points as over two-thirds of the blue chips tumbled. Notably, property developers Tan Tao (ITA) and Tu Liem Urban Development (NTL) and financiers Ocean Group (OGC) and PetroVietnam Finance (PVF) plunged to the floor.

Only four stocks among this group added value, including Eximbank (EIB), Gemadept Logistic (GMD), commercial baker Kinh Do (KDC) and Vinamilk (VNM).

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index slid 1.9 percent to just 54.74 points. Losers largely outnumbered gainers by 152-58.

The total market value reached 314.13 billion VND (14.9 million USD), increasing 51.6 percent, as 44.2 million shares changed hands.

The HNX30, tracking the capital city's top stocks, also dropped 2.7 percent to 102.89 points.-VNA