Shares retreated on both national exchanges with most blue chips losing ground. On the HCM Stock Exchange, the VN-Index remained essentially unchanged from last Friday's close, concluding at 410.52 points.



Losers outnumbered gainers by 151-79. The value of trades reached VND568.3 billion (US$27 million), or 86.2 per cent of the previous session's level, while the volume of trades fetched 35 million shares.
While blue chips were mixed, the majority tumbled. Property developer Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG), Military Bank (MBB) and steelmaker Hoa Phat (HPG) bottomed out. Other major stocks such as insurer Bao Viet (BVH), Vietinbank (CTG), Phu My Fertiliser (DPM), PetroVietnam Finance (PVF) and Vietcombank (VCB) slid.
Meanwhile, food processor Masan (MSN), Vinamilk (VNM), real estate developer Vincom (VIC) and Sacombank (STB) managed to advance by 0.6-3.8 per cent.
The HNX-Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange also dropped 1.44 per cent to 65.02 points.
Market value, however, slightly increased over last Friday to VND278.7 billion ($13.2 million) on a volume of 27.5 million shares.
VNDirect Securities Company (VND) was the most active stock nationwide, with nearly 3.5 million shares changing hands.