Hanoi (VNA) - Shares were mixed on the two local exchanges on December 26while investor confidence remained low ahead of the year-end holiday.

Thebenchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange was down 0.3 percent to close at662.45 points.

Large-capstocks continued to pull the market down with 14 of the 30 largest companies bycapitalisation suffering losses.

Thosedecliners included dairy producer Vinamilk (VNM), PetroVietnam Gas Corp (GAS),property and retail corporation Vingroup (VIC) and Vietinbank (CTG).

VNMfell 1.2 percent, GAS dropped 1.5 percent, VIC inched down 0.2 percent and CTGedged down 0.3 percent.

Nearly115 million shares were traded on December 26, worth 2.88 trillion VND (128.3million USD), up 1.8 percent in volume and 24.8 percent in value compared tolast week’s daily average numbers.

Suchan improvement was attributed to the increase of put-through trading orders.More than 47.6 million shares were exchanged via this method, worth 1.48trillion VND.

Foreigninvestors recorded a net sell value of 320 billion VND, putting more pressureon local stocks and domestic investors’ sentiment.

Onthe opposite side, steelmakers became attractive to investors on expectationsfor tightened policies on imported steel products in order to protect the localindustry.

Thatinformation boosted demand for steel companies’ shares on the day, includingHoa Phat Group (HPG), Hoa Sen Group (HSG) and Vietnam-Germany Steel Pipe JSC(VGS).

Thosestocks advanced 2 percent, 1 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively.

Unlikethe southern market, the HNX Index on the Hanoi Stock Exchange rose 0.2 percentto end at 79.25 points, ending a two-day loss of 1.5 percent.

Thenorthern market index was lifted by Asia Commercial Bank (ACB), VNDirectSecurities Corp (VND) and Vietnam Construction and Import-Export JSC (VCG).

ACBrose 2.9 percent, VND moved up 0.8 percent and VCG increased by 0.7 percent.

Morethan 30.7 million shares were exchanged on the northern bourse, worth 321billion VND.

“Thestock market will likely be quiet this week as investors may stand by until theNew Year begins,” Bao Viet Securities Corp (BVSC) said in a note.

“Supporting information may appear after the NewYear holiday when new macroeconomic targets are announced and listed companiesbegin to report their earnings.”-VNA