Thebenchmark VN Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange dropped 0.3 percent toclose at 685.06 points, extending losses for a second day.
TheHNX Index on the Hanoi Stock Exchange, on the other hand, ended slightly upat 83.34 percent. The day before, the northern market index fell 0.2 percent.
Bothindices finished the week higher than the previous one. The VN Index was up 0.8percent and the HNX Index increased by 1.5 percent.
Marketliquidity was modest with about 121.3 million shares being exchanged, worth 2.32trillion VND (103 million USD).
Thebanking sector continued to perform poorly on January 13 with six of the ninelisted banks suffering losses.
Amongdecliners, Vietcombank (VCB) and Sacombank (STB) lost 1.2 percent and 1 percent,while Asia Commercial Bank (ACB), MBBank (MBB), Vietinbank (CTG) and BIDV (BID)were down between 0.5 percent and 1.7 percent.
Theinsurance industry was driven down by Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) and Bao MinhInsurance Corp (BMI), which slipped 0.8 percent and 1.5 percent. BVH retreatedfrom a two-day increase of 2.8 percent.
Energystocks also struggled, with PetroVietnam Gas Corp (GAS), PetroVietnam Drillingand Well Services Corp (PVD) and PetroVietnam Technical Services Corp (PVS)losing 1.5 percent, 1.4 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively.
Thedecline of energy stocks came after global oil prices fell after two days ofgains.
Onthe opposite side, real estate and construction firms and fertiliser producershelped lift the national stock market.
Vingroup(VIC) and Faros Construction Corp (ROS), two large-cap companies in theproperty and construction industry, rose 0.7 percent and 0.8 percent,respectively, while PetroVietnam Fertiliser and Chemical Corp (DPM) added 2.3percent.
Accordingto BIDV Securities Corp, the capital is moving from leading stocks tospeculative ones.