Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index tumbled for five straight days on May 18 as investors rushed to sell off to withdraw from the ailing market after the central bank raised the repurchase rate to 15 percent yesterday.
The shares of 284 companies and five mutual funds listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange slashed 2.03 percent, or 9.44 points, to close at 454.91 points.
Of the index, 57 stocks advanced, 159 dropped, while 73 remained unchanged.
Trading on the city bourse improved by 18 percent in volume and 11 percent in value over the previous trading session as 28.52 million shares changed hands at a value of VND537 billion.
Largest listed lender, Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam or Vietcombank (VCB) was the most active share in volume with 2.24 million shares changing hands.
Saigon Thuong Tin Joint Stock Commercial Bank or Sacombank (STB) tagged along with 2.13 million shares.
Saigon Securities Inc. (SSI), the country’s largest brokerage, ranked third with 1.66 million shares traded.
Vietnam Container Shipping Joint Stock Company (VSC) plummeted 50.24 percent to close at VND30,600. The company will issue 11,863,951 bonus shares to reward its current shareholders at a ratio of 1:1.
PetroVietnam General Services Joint Stock Corporation (PET) slumped 13.97 percent to VND11,700. The company will pay dividends for the year 2010 in cash to its current shareholders at a ratio of 16 percent on June 2.
Other losers on the city bourse included Licogi 16 Joint Stock Company (LCG), Thu Duc Water Supply Joint Stock Company (TDW), and Lilama 18 Joint Stock Company (LM8).
Construction Joint Stock Company 47 (C47) and South Logistics Joint Stock Company (STG) jumped 5 percent to VND12,600 and VND16,800 respectively.
Vinacafé Bienhoa Joint Stock Company (VCF) speeded up 4.76 percent to close at VND66,000.
Ha Do Group Joint Stock Company (HDG) restored 4.72 percent to VND33,300.
The Hanoi’s HNX-Index of the smaller in the north extended its losing streak to seven consecutive trading sessions, giving up 0.88 percent, or 0.7 points, to close at 78.86 points. Trading volume strongly improved over the previous trading session as 28.67 million shares worth VND347.63 billion changed hands.
Meanwhile, the UPCoM-Index of unlisted shares adjusted 0.11 points to 33.78 points this morning. A total of 83,600 shares changed hands at a value of VND701.77 million.
