The VN Index fell 0.3 per cent to close at 650.04 points at the end of the early session. — Photo tinnhanhchungkhoan.vn

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — Vietnamese shares extended losses in the early session, led by the food and beverage sector, plastic and chemicals producers and pharmaceutical firms.

The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange (HoSE) dropped 0.3 per cent to close at 650.04 points.

The HNX Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange fell 0.9 per cent to end at 85.25 points.

The two largest stocks in the food and beverage sector, Viet Nam Dairy Products JSC (VNM) and consumer goods producer Masan Group (MSN) declined by 1.4 per cent and 0.8 per cent, respectively.

VNM has lost two per cent after rising to the highest-ever price of VND147,000 (US$6.53) on July 8.

Pharmaceutical stocks continued to suffer from profit-taking activities. Among them, Traphaco JSC (TRA) was down 0.9 per cent, Domesco Medical Import-Export Corp (DMC) plunged 5.7 per cent, and DHG Pharmaceutical JSC (DHG) slumped three per cent.

Plastic producers were also among the largest losers in the early session, such Binh Minh Plastic JSC (BMP) and Tien Phong Plastic JSC (NTP), which dropped 1.3 per cent and 1.5 per cent, respectively.

Investors traded more than 147.6 million shares, worth VND2.44 trillion ($108.4 million). — VNS