Banking stocks lift NEPSE as turnover climbs to NRs 6.74 Billion

The stock market ended the week on a positive note on Friday, with the NEPSE index rising 22.85 points to close at 2,647.22.

Trading activity also strengthened, with total turnover reaching NRs 6.74 billion, compared with NRs 5.49 billion on Thursday. A total of 345 securities were traded, with around 21.27 million shares changing hands.

Commercial banks dominated the day’s trading activity, with four banks among the five most-traded companies. Kumari Bank recorded the highest turnover at NRs 321.38 million, followed by Laxmi Sunrise Bank at NRs 271.6 million and Global IME Bank at NRs 232 million. Siddhartha Bank also featured among the top five most-traded companies.

The banking sub-index rose 1.59%, the biggest gain among the sectoral indices. Life insurance advanced 1.52%, while hydropower, microfinance, hotels and tourism, development banks, manufacturing and processing, non-life insurance, trading and investment sectors also posted gains. The finance and “others” sub-indices declined marginally.

Market breadth remained positive, with 196 companies gaining, 74 declining and nine closing unchanged.

Among individual stocks, Snow Rivers posted the largest gain, rising 13.66% to NRs 1,057 per share. Infinity Laghubitta gained 9.81%, while Mailung Khola Hydropower, Yambaling Hydropower and Bottlers Nepal (Terai) also recorded notable gains.

On the declining side, Hathway Investment fell 15% to NRs 499.80, triggering the negative circuit limit. Dhaulagiri Laghubitta and Matrubhumi Laghubitta also recorded declines.

The day’s trading pattern showed heightened investor participation in commercial bank stocks, while overall market turnover increased alongside the rise in the NEPSE index.