The VN-Index failed to sustain early gains on the HCM Stock Exchange onJuly 28 before closing at 408.39 points, a decline of 0.25 percent fromthe previous day's session.

Trades were mixed, withdecliners edging out advancers on the HCM City bourse by 101-97overall. The value of trades fell by 18 percent to just 417 billion VND(20.2 million USD) on a volume of about 23.6 million shares.

Performance of blue chips was mixed. Software producer FPT rose 3.4percent, while financial group Masan Group (MSN), Sacombank (STB),Vietcombank (VCB), Saigon Securities Inc (SSI) and steelmaker Hoa PhatGroup (HPG) all realised gains of about 1 percent.

Meanwhile, real estate developers VinpearlLand (VPL) and Vincom (VIC),along with insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) and Vietinbank (CTG), endedthe day in negative territory.

Sacombank, the fourthlargest listed lender by capitalisation, became the most-active share,but with just over 800,000 shares changing hands.

Sharesof Tien Giang Investment and Construction Co (THG) debuted on July 28,becoming the 300th listed share on the HCM City market. However,THG closed its first trading day down from its reference price of 25,000VND to just 20,000 VND, on a volume of only 30 shares.

On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index closed essentially unchangedat 69.95, after a sluggish session in which only 18.96 million shareswere traded, worth just 198.5 billion VND (9.6 million USD).

Kim Long Securities (KLS) was again the most-active stock nationwide,with 1.7 million shares exchanged. KLS managed to close up by 1 percenton the day to 10,600 VND per share.

In contrast to themoves of domestic investors, foreign investors on July 28 concluded thesession as net buyers on both exchanges, picking up almost a millionshares worth a combined 36 billion VND (1.7 million USD)./.