VN-Index dips after five-session gaining streak

The index started off in the red but then recovered, closing 1.24 points lower after gaining over 75 points in five previous sessions.

Trading on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange fell marginally to VND16.11 trillion ($694.8 million).

The VN-30 basket, comprising the 30 largest capped stocks, saw 20 tickers fell, led by PNJ of Phu Nhuan Jewelry with a 4.6 percent drop.

HPG of steelmaker Hoa Phat lost 2.1 percent to a near two-year low, extending its downward trend starting early April.

It was followed by two private lenders, TPB of TPBank and STB of Sacombank, both dropping 2 percent.

Ten blue chips bucked the trend, with GAS of Petrovietnam Gas closing at ceiling price, gaining 7 percent.

CTG of lender Techcombank and MSN of conglomerate Masan Group both rose 2.2 higher, and VNM of dairy giant Vinamilk closed 1.6 percent higher.

Foreign investors were net buyers for the third consecutive sessions to the tune of VND384.3 billion.

The HNX-Index for stocks on the Hanoi Stock Exchange, home to mid and small caps, gained 0.96 percent while the UPCoM-Index for the Unlisted Public Companies Market fell 0.27 percent.