Active profit-taking activities sent markets down today as the VN-Index slid 0.9%. After consecutive strong rallies since beginning of the week, brokerage tickers SSI and HCM dropped 1.8% and 3.4% respectively. Tire makers followed suit, as DRC and CSM dipped 2.3% and 1.0% respectively. On the other hand, banks held up well as VCB (-1.2%) was the only large bank to decline while CTG (+1.1%) and BID (+1.1%) continued to advance after reaching the ceiling yesterday.