The stock market opened the new week's trading in negative zone as shares slumped on both exchanges this morning, led by blue chips.

On the HCM City Stock Exchange, the VN-Index stood at 470.24 points, off 0.63 per cent from the previous session's close.

Most large-cap shares in the VN30 (tracking the top 30 by market capitalisation and liquidity) weres also down 0.83 per cent at 528.01 points. Among them, real estate giant VinGroup (VIC) was the biggest loser this morning, down 2.4 per cent, followed by Vietcombank (VCB), down 1.5 per cent.

Tan Tao Investment Industry (ITA) continued to be the most active code on the southern bourse with 1.18 million shares changing hands but slid 5.08 per cent to be traded at VND5,600 a share.

Trading was sluggish when just 21.5 million shares, worth VND365 billion (US$17.4 million).

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index also gave up 0.65 per cent to close the morning's session at 57.98 points with a low turnover of VND102 billion ($4.9 million).

Trading in shares of Sai Gon-Ha Noi Bank (SHB) showed 3.76 million shares exchanged at around VND6,500 a share, becoming the most active shares being traded.

Trading was due to resume at 1pm.