Investors were cautious in trading this morning, pulling down both stock indices and values of trades.

On the HCM City Stock Exchange, the VN-Index stood at 499.30 points by the end of the morning, off 0.95 per cent from yesterday's close.

A sell-off of blue chips was responsible for the market downturn, shown in a one-per-cent decrease of the VN30 which monitors changes of the top 30 shares by market capitalisation and liquidity.a

Most of large-caps declined, led by Phu Nhuan Jewellery (PNJ) with a loss of 5.2 per cent, Southern Rubber Industry (CSM) down 4.1 per cent, Vietcombank (VCB) down 2.4 per cent and Vinamilk (VNM) down 1.6 per cent.

The trading value was just half of yesterday's morning, reaching VND420.8 billion (US$20million).

Tan Tao Investment Industry (ITA) is leading the market's trades with 1.93 million shares changing hands but the shares edged down 2.94 per cent at VND6,600 a share.

Meanwhile the HNX-Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange also lost 0.61 per cent to finish this morning's session at 60.71 points.

Trading was sluggish with just 17.6 million shares, worth over VND153.2 billion ($7.3 million), exchanged.

Sai Gon-Ha Noi Bank was again the most active code on trades of 2.43 million shares, being traded at VND6,900 a share.

Trading will resume at 1pm