The Vietnam Stock Index or VN-Index, a capitalization-weighted index of all the companies listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange, extended losses this week as investors remained cautious ahead of uncertainties in global markets.

Overall market condition was negative as investors kept cautious ahead of the US Federal Reserve meeting in November and the US presidential election. Meanwhile, the index lost the threshold of 680 points, and oscillated around 660-676 points during the week.

Energy stocks such as PetroVietnam Drilling and Wells Service (PVD) were the biggest losers this week due to negative third-quarter earnings as well as the volatility of the global oil market.

Other large-cap stocks lost value, including Masan Group (MSN), Vietinbank (CTG), Sacombank (STB), software producer FPT Corp (FPT) and steelmaker Hoa Phat Group (HPG). Meanwhile, some recovered from losses, contributing to the rise of the index, such as real estate giant VinGroup (VIC), lender BIDV (BID) and insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH).

The index closed at 666.73 points on Friday, down 0.9 points, or 0.13 percent, from the previous trading day's close. From the previous week's closing session, the index lost 15.52 points, or 2.32 percent.

During the week, the index experienced one up and four downs, posting the highest level of 676.6 points on Tuesday, and the lowest level of 666.73 points on Friday. In comparison, it ranged between 673.61 points and 682.25 points in the previous week.

About 87.224 million shares worth 1.574 trillion Vietnamese dong (VND) (71.52 million U.S. dollars) changed hands on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange on Friday, a decrease of 47.04 percent in volume and 44.48 percent in value against Thursday.

The index may fluctuate around 660-674 points in the next trading sessions, predicted Saigon-Hanoi Securities Company.