Trading value on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) reached VND27.44 trillion ($1.13 billion) on Thursday, a surge of 52% from the previous day and the highest level in nearly three months.
However, the VN-Index, representing the HoSE, lost 4.94 points, or 0.44%, to close at 1,121.49. The bourse saw 289 losers and 205 gainers, with 1.3 billion shares changing hands.
Blue chips were the main support for the market as their VN-30 index gained 2.08 points, or 0.19%, to 1,111.35.
Banking stocks showed the best performance, with eight in the top 10 tickers having the most positive impact on the VN-Index. They were BID of BIDV bank, VPB of VPBank, TCB of Techcombank, CTG of VietinBank, STB of Sacombank, MBB of MBBank, LPB of LPBank, and ACB of Asia Commercial Bank.
Meanwhile, most other important stock groups were under strong selling pressure, especially securities and real estate.
SSI of Saigon Securities dropped over 2.2%, while VND of VNDirect Securities and VIX of VIX Securities went down 3.3%. All the three recorded over VND1 trillion ($41.18 million) in trading value.
Other stocks in the securities group such as SHS of Saigon-Hanoi Securities, VCI of Viet Capital Securities, MBS of MBBank Securities, FTS of FPT Securities, and CTS of VietinBank Securities even fell deeper.
In the real estate group, most tickers declined 2% or more. However, HQC of Hoang Quan Corp. and QCG of Quoc Cuong Gia Lai Corp. bucked the trend, hitting their ceiling prices.
Foreign investors were net sellers on the HoSE for the seventh consecutive session to the tune of VND814 billion ($33.52 million). They mainly net sold VHM of real estate giant Vinhomes, MSN of top retailer Masan Group, and STB of Sacombank.
The HNX-Index on the Hanoi Stock Exchange, home to mid and small caps, lost 0.77% to 231.84 points, while the UPCoM-Index for unlisted public companies fell 0.71% to 85.71 points.