The value of trades on the HCM Stock Exchange reached only half of theprevious session's level, totalling just 919.6 billion VND (43.8 millionUSD) on a volume of about 58.5 million.
However, the VN30Index, which tracks the market's leading shares by capitalisation andvolume, managed to close up slightly to 497.22 points. Four of the 10leading shares by capitalisation posted gains, including Vietcombank(VCB) which hit its ceiling price of 28,300 VND per share.
Real estate developer Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG), Sacombank (STB),Eximbank (EIB) and insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) all retreated, withBVH plunging to the floor.
Military Bank (MBB) was the most-active share on the southern bourse with over 4.1 million changing hands.
According to Kim Eng Securities Co, information emerged on March 19which directly affected the value of two construction stocks – Hanic(SHN) and Licogi (LCG). SHN chairman Dinh Hong Long admitted to thelocal media on March 19 that his company was facing insolvency and in "avery bad condition." The announcement put the stock under heavy sellpressure and it nearly bottomed out.
Meanwhile, LCG alsofailed to turn a profit this year and it shares on March 19 also dippedto their floor price with a heavy surplus of sell orders.
"We believe that many construction firms face similarly gloomy business results," said Kim Eng Securities Co analysts.
On the Hanoi Stock Exchange on March 19, shares fluctuated during thesession, but the HNX-Index managed to recover by the end of the session,closing up by 0.2 percent to 72.90 points. Value fell 31.4 percent fromthe previous session to 754.96 billion VND (35.9 million USD), whilevolume totalled 78.9 million shares.
VNDirect SecuritiesCo (VND) emerged as the most-active share nationwide with nearly 11.2million traded. It finished the session up 4.8 percent to 10,900 VND pershare.
While sell pressures declined on March 19 comparedto the previous session, demand for stocks remained anaemic, said FPTSecurities Co analysts. "Technical signals are not supporting thepossibility of a further rally of the VN-Index in upcoming sessions,"they added.-VNA