Stocks opened the new week's trading in the red with trading values decreased sharply on both exchanges.

On the HCM City Stock Exchange, the VN-Index closed this morning at 424 points, off 0.37 per cent from the previous session, with value of trades totalling just over VND253 billion (US$12 million).

Losers tripled gainers, led by blue chips.

Shares tracked by the VN30 lost 0.29 per cent to 505.11 points. Insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), food processor Masan Group (MSN), property developer Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAG), PetroVietnam Finance (PVF) and Sacombank (STB) all fell from 1-2 per cent.

With nearly 2 million shares changing hands, Tay Bac Minerals Investment (KTB) was the only stock seeing trades in excess of 1 million shares, becoming the most active share this morning, despite plunging to the floor price of VND8,900 ($0.42) a share.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index also declined 0.8 per cent to 69.78 points by the end of this morning.

Decliners outnumbered advancers by 123-46.

Trading was sluggish when just nearly 20 million shares, worth VND206.2 billion ($9.8 million), were exchanged.

Habubank (HBB) was still the most active code on the Ha Noi bourse this morning with nearly 3 million shares changing hands, closing flat at VND5,100 ($0.24) a share. HBB will be delisted from August 17