The upward trend failed to continue on Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, with the benchmark index closing down on the opening trading day of 2014, while shares on the Hanoi exchange advanced.

The VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh City Exchange lost 0.02 percent to 504.51 points on trading of 57.7 million shares, as total trading value reached 906.3 billion VND (43.15 million USD).

Despite gains in the morning, investors boosting the sales of blue chips in the afternoon dragged down the benchmark index.

The VN30-Index, tracking the southern city's 30 largest shares by capitalisation and liquidity, lost 0.04 percent to 562 points.

Gains from six blue chips, including Vietinbank (CTG), PetroVietnam Fertilisers and Chemicals (DPM), Eximbank (EIB), FPT Group (FPT), PetroVietnam Low Pressure Gas Distribution (PGD) and Pha Lai Thermoelectricity (PPC), failed to support the benchmark index to increase on December 2.

Of the 30 top shares, 14 stocks lost value, such as Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure Investment (CII), logistics company Gemardebt (GMD), Kinh Do (KDC), Masan Group (MSN), Ocean Group (OCG) and Vietcombank (VCB).

Also, the cash flow had signals to shift from blue chips to speculative stocks.

FLC Group (FLC) was active on January 2, increasing 600 VND (0.028 USD) per share to its ceiling price of 9,400 VND (0.44 USD) with 7.4 million shares traded, leading the southern bourse in liquidity.

On the Hanoi Exchange, liquidity was lower than the last December 31 trading, with 33.4 million shares changing hands with a total value of 268 billion VND (12.76 million USD).

However, the HNX-Index maintained its upward trend, edging up 0.13 percent to reach 67.93 points.

The HNXFF-Index, which was launched one month ago composed of stocks with a minimum free-float rate of 5 percent, rose 0.11 percent to 67.99 points.

The HNX30-Index, comprised of the capital city's top shares, however, dropped 0.28 percent to 126.79 points.

According to FPT Securities, the December 31 investor enthusiasm on expectations about the increase of foreign stakes from the current 49 percent to 60 percent eased on January 2.

Vietnam Investment Securities said that the approaching Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday also put the market under selling pressure.

The company noted that stocks would be a shining investment channel, in comparison with others in 2014.

However, earning profits were not clear, as most profitable stocks had their holders. Investors should take advantage when the market declines to buy blue chips, since the market would soon recover, said Vietnam Investment Securities.-VNA