The VN-Index opened on a positive note this morning but the market backslid to close at 457.13 at the end of today's session.

On the HCM City bourse, the market's value decreased by 15 per cent to VND801.3 billion (US$40.1 million), after 32.6 million shares changed hands.

About 154 shares declined in value, while 55 shares advanced.

While most blue chips tumbled, three - Ocean Group (OGC), Masan Group (MSN) and property developer Vincom (VIC) - were among the stocks that rallied, of which the latter two rose to their ceiling price.

Sai Gon Securities Inc (SSI) became the most active stock on the southern bourse with more than 2 million shares exchanged. SSI closed up 1.2 per cent over Friday's value to VND25,000 ($1.25) a share.

In Ha Noi, the HNX-Index fell by 2.72 per cent to close today's session at 109.73.

Trading volume fell 23.2 per cent to 22.5 million shares, worth VND426 billion ($21.3 million).

Losers largely outnumbered gainers by 216-73.

Kim Long Securities (KLS) and PetroVietnam Construction (PVX) continued to be the most heavily-traded shares on the northern bourse, with more than two million shares of each stock exchanged. KLS fell by 1.6 per cent to close at VND12,400 ($0.62) and PVX dropped by 1.8 per cent to VND21,300 ($1.07).