Vietnam index falls 0.6 percent, bluechips lead

Vietnam's benchmark VN Index closed 0.58 percent lower on Monday, with investors booking profits from recent gains, mostly in big-caps, while foreign investors extended their net purchase position. More than half of the equities headed south, led by PetroVietNam Gas, Vietnam's top listed firm by market value, with a 1.5-percent fall, followed by Hanoi-based lender BIDV that lost 1.04 percent.
Analysts gave mixed views about the short-term outlook as both buying and selling demand were moderate, with volume reaching nearly 100 million shares on Monday, slightly above the 30-day average of 94.5 million, Reuters data showed.