Week ends on cautious note

Investors appear to be waiting out rumors regarding on State Bank’s possible interest rate cut throughout the week as well as details about the planned special asset management company to address the banking system’s crisis of non-performing loans.

Matching value reduced to a low level, totaling VND428.8 billion ($20.6 million) today.

Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE)’s shed 1.89 points or 0.49 per cent to 383.8 points, while Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX)’s HNX-Index losing 0.12 points or 0.23 per cent to 51.66 points.

More major stocks ended down. Among financial tickers, Saigon Securities Inc. (SSI), Military Bank (MBB), Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), Vietcombank (VCB) slightly declined. Eximbank (EIB) and Sacombank (STB) ended flat while Vietinbank (CTG) slightly advanced.

Masan Group (MSN) gained 1.59 per cent, Vinamilk (VNM) was unchanged while PetroVietnam Drilling and Well Services (PVD), PetroVietnam Gas (GAS) and PetroVietnam Fertilizers (DPM) falling.

Speculative cash flow was also less active. Just three stocks-- Ocean Group (OGC), Tan Tao Investment Industry Corp. (ITA) and Viet-Han Corp. (VHG)-- had over 1 million shares matched. Mineral stocks Tay Bac Minerals Investment (KTB), Nari Hamico Minerals (KSS), Duong Hieu Trading and Mining (DHM), Lao Cai Mineral Exploitation & Processing (LCM) eased back or stayed unchanged at opening price. Bac Giang Exploitable Mineral (BGM) still gained, but liquidity reduced.

Real-estate major stocks Vincom Group (VIC) strongly dropped. Song Da Urban & Industrial Zone Investment and Development (SJS) and Kinh Bac City Development Share Holding Corp. (KBC) also fell while Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG) unchanged.

Some 95 stocks gained and 102 stocks lost on the southern bourse, while 115 ended flat.

On HNX, the real-estate sector was still quite exciting with Saigon Commercial Real Estate (SRC), Petro Vietnam Power Land (PVL), PetroVietnam - Nghe An Construction (PVA), Song Hong Construction (ICG) all jumped with high trading volumes.

SCR outperformed the northern bourse with 4.2 million shares matched.

Meanwhile, financial tickers like Saigon-Hanoi Bank (SHB), VNDirect Securities (VND), Kim Long Securities (KLS) and Bao Viet Securities (BVS) moved sideways.