Shares on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange slumped for the second day on March 26 as investors kept selling for profit. However, buyers and sellers showed confidence in the market.

The offered volume filled all orders from investors thirsty for equity assets. They showed confidence in the market, which has been driven by solid cash flows.

The VN-Index shed 2.29 percent to end at 588.06 on March 26. The gauge has risen 16.5 percent in the year to date after gaining 22 percent last year, according to FPT Securities.

The market breadth was negative on the southern bourse. A total of 55 stocks advanced, 39 were unchanged and 202 were in decline.

Some large capitalisation stocks showed strong price decreases. They included Vingroup with a reduction of 3,000 VND per share, Vinamilk (VNM) and Masan (MNS) down 2,000 VND per share respectively, while Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) slid 1,800 VND and GAS declined 1,500 VND.

Tan Tao Investment–Industry Corporation (ITA), remain the most active share with 24 million shares changing hands to close at 10,000 VND per share.

FLC Group (FLC), was second with 15.4 million shares traded. They plummeted 6.7 percent to end at 14,000 (VND) per share.

Hoang Quan Consulting Trading Service Real Estate Corporation (HQC) tumbled one percent to settle at 9,700 VND on a trade of 10.4 million.

SJS led the upswing with a 7 percent gain to close the day at 26,400 VND per share. KSS was the biggest loser, giving up 7 percent to end at 8,000 VND per share.

The VN30-Index, tracking the southern bourse's top shares in capitalisation and liquidity, dived 2.62 percent to end at 664.88 points. Market volume was a little changed from a day earlier, totalling 260 million shares and fund certificates worth 4,310 billion VND, down 15 percent from the previous day.

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index sank for the second day as traders continued to offload local shares to take profits.

The market atmosphere was exuberant as both buyers and sellers actively achieved their goals, a stock analyst in Hanoi said. Investors sold across the board to take margins.

Buyers saw this as a good chance to increase holdings amid strong confidence in the current market uptrend, driven by solid cash flows.

The HNX-Index lost 1.46 percent to close at 89.79. A total of 160 million shares changed hands for 1,840 billion VND (87.2 million USD), a little higher than the previous day.

The northern bourse saw 203 declines, 82 advancers and 37 remain unchanged.

The HNX 30 Index composed of the capital city's top shares also plunged 1.74 percent to end at 183.5.

PetroVietnam Construction (PVX), was the most active share. A total of 17.4 million were traded but sank 7.4 percent to end at 6,300 VND per share.

Sai Gon Ha Noi Bank (SHB) was second in liquidity. A total of 15.6 million shares changed hands, diving one percent to stand at 11,400 VND per share.-VNA