The morning session witnessed a cooling of large caps and widespread profit-taking pressures, pulling the VN-Index back towards the reference level. By the mid-session break, the VN-Index had gained just under 1 point, hovering at 1,316.13; while the HNX-Index underwent a more pronounced correction, shedding 0.59% to stand at 216.42. Market breadth was negative with 422 decliners overpowering 227 advancers.