VN-Index declines as European stocks remain flat

The index closed 5.30 points lower after gaining 2.54 points in the previous session.

Trading on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange increased by 9% to VND18.301 trillion (US$736 million).

The VN-30 basket, comprising the 30 largest capped stocks, saw 21 tickers fell.

MSN of conglomerate Masan Group saw the biggest drop of 2.2%, followed by BCM of Becamex Investment and Industrial Development with a 2.1% decline and VNM of dairy giant Vinamilk, down 2.0%.

Six blue chips gained. VHM of property giant Vinhomes went up 1.9%, VRE of retail real estate arm Vincom Retail rose 1.8%, and VIC of private conglomerate Vingroup closed 1.4% higher.

Foreign investors were net seller to the tune of VND389 billion, mainly selling VHM of Vinhomes and HPG of steelmaker Hoa Phat Group.

The HNX-Index for stocks on the Hanoi Stock Exchange, home to mid and small caps, fell 0.46%, while the UPCoM-Index for the Unlisted Public Companies Market went down 0.29%.

Globally, European shares were flat on Monday ahead of a raft of key economic data set to unfold through the week, while the technology sector kept gains in check, Reuters reported.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was flat at 518.22. On Friday, the benchmark touched a more than three-week high and logged a third straight weekly gain.

London markets are closed for a holiday.