VN-Index inches down as European shares open higher

The index closed 0.23 points lower after gaining 11.79 points in the previous session.

Trading on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange increased by 5% to VND12.757 trillion (US$501.8 million).

The VN-30 basket, comprising the 30 largest capped stocks, saw 11 tickers fell.

VHM of property giant Vinhomes slipped 3.9%, STB of HCMC-based lender Sacombank dropped 1.2%, and SSI of brokerage SSI Securities Corporation went down 1.0%.

Thirteen blue chips gained. GAS of state-owned Petrovietnam Gas saw the biggest increase of 1.5%, followed by TCB of private lender Techcombank with a 1.3% gain, and HPG of steelmaker Hoa Phat Group, up 1.0%.

Foreign investors were net buyers to the tune of VND31 billion, mainly buying HDG of construction firm Ha Do Group and TCB.

The HNX-Index for stocks on the Hanoi Stock Exchange, home to mid and small caps, fell 0.21%, while the UPCoM-Index for the Unlisted Public Companies Market went up 0.13%.

Globally, tech shares led gains in Europe on Friday, with the benchmark stock index hitting a one-week high and on track for its first weekly advance in five, as the recent selling pressure driven by geopolitical tensions came to a halt, Reuters reported.

The pan-European STOXX 600 was up 0.6%, set for its second day of gains following a four-day losing streak as rising uncertainty around the Ukraine-Russia conflict boosted demand for safe-haven assets.

The STOXX 600, however, eyed weekly gains after losing over 4% in the past four weeks.

Tech hit a one-week high, up 1%, led by chip stocks. The sector ended Thursday higher, reversing early losses after U.S.-based Nvidia's overnight revenue forecast.