Vietnam stocks fall amid Asian markets’ plunge

The index closed 9.59 points lower after gaining 5.85 points in the previous session.

Trading on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange decreased by 18% to VND14.79 trillion (US$585 million).

The VN-30 basket, comprising the 30 largest capped stocks, saw 27 tickers fell.

POW of electricity producer Petrovietnam Power Corporation fell 2.9%, and MSN of conglomerate Masan Group closed 2.7% lower.

ACB of Asia Commercial Bank dropped 2% and GVR of Vietnam Rubber Group declined by 1.8%.

Three blue chips gained, including SSB of SeABank with a 2.4% rise and BVH of insurance company Bao Viet Holdings, up 1.4%.

Foreign investors were net sellers to the tune of VND302 billion, mainly selling MWG of electronics retail chain Mobile World and MSN.

The HNX-Index for stocks on the Hanoi Stock Exchange, home to mid and small caps, fell 0.42%, while the UPCoM-Index for the Unlisted Public Companies Market went down 0.45%.

Asian markets started what could be a momentous month warily, with shares mostly lower and Treasury yields near three-month highs on Friday, while investors wait for U.S. jobs data, although a rate cut next week is largely baked in, Reuters reported.

Tokyo's Nikkei fell 2.6% as a stronger yen clouded the outlook for Japanese exporters. The dollar rose 0.3% to 152.46 yen on Friday.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan, on the other hand, rose 0.2% thanks to gains in Chinese stocks, but was still down 1.3% for the week.