Shares tread water on the HCM Stock Exchange on July 12, with the VN-Index hovering near 500 points as investors held their breath waiting for news of the fate of the Vietnam Enterprise Investments Fund Ltd (VEIL).

Trading volume rose by 20 percent from July 9's anaemic level, however, to 36.6 million shares, worth a combined 1 trillion VND (52.6 million USD).

Advancers outnumbered decliners by 122-65, with Thanh Cong Textile Garment Investment Trading Co (TCM) becoming the most-active share on a volume of over 1.8 million.

Gains by a few major shares, including Vietinbank (CTG), Eximbank (EIB), Vietcombank (VCB), Hoang Anh Gia Lai Co (HAG), Vinamilk (VNM), Hoa Sen Group (HSG) and Phu My Fertiliser (DPM), helped sustain the market.

The fate of the 400 million USD VEIL continued to weigh on investor psychology, with no final decision expected until after a vote by VEIL stakeholder’s on July 12 afternoon following the close of trading on the stock market.

Foreign investors again concluded on July 12 as net buyers on both national stock exchanges, responsible for a net buy of nearly 36 billion VND (1.9 million USD) worth of shares.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange on July 12, the HNX-Index edged up by 0.87 percent to close July 12's session at 157.57.

Investor caution continued to depress trading, with volume dropping 11 percent to just 27 million shares, worth a total of 803 billion VND (42.3 million USD). Gainers outnumbered losers by 185-74, with Kim Long Securities Co (KLS) being the most-active share on a volume of over 1.5 million.

The Hanoi market on July 12 welcomed its 309th listing from Orient Securities Co (ORS). ORS shares closed down 10 percent from their opening price to 13,100 VND (0.69 USD) per share, with 1.58 million traded./.