VN-Index struggles to return to 1,300 points

The index closed 4.73 points higher after dropping 5.14 points in the previous session.

Trading on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange decreased by 2% to VND22.51 trillion ($884 million).

The VN-30 basket, comprising the 30 largest capped stocks, saw 14 tickers gained and 16 fell.

POW of electricity producer Petrovietnam Power Corporation led with a 6.8% increase.

It was followed by PLX of fuel distributor Petrolimex, up 2.8%, and BVH of insurance company Bao Viet Holdings, up 2.5%.

Eight blue chips fell, including CTG of state-owned lender VietinBank with a 1.2% drop.

Foreign investors were net sellers to the tune of VND655 billion, mainly selling FPT of IT giant FPT Corporation and VPB of private lender VPBank.

The HNX-Index for stocks on the Hanoi Stock Exchange, home to mid and small caps, rose 0.52%, while the UPCoM-Index for the Unlisted Public Companies Market went up 0.23%.