Market ends year 2082 on a modest decline

The stock market closed the final trading day of the Nepali year 2082 on a slightly negative note, with the benchmark index slipping by 4.18 points to settle at 2,833.60.

The decline was driven by losses in major sectors including banking, development banks, finance, life insurance, microfinance, trading, and others. In total, share prices of 153 companies fell during the session, with Unik Nepal Laghubitta recording the steepest drop of 3.60%.

Despite the overall downturn, 105 companies posted gains, while 12 remained unchanged. Six companies hit the daily positive circuit limit of 10%, namely Super Khudi Hydropower, Suryakunda Hydropower, Hotel Forest Inn, Palpa Cement, Ridgeline Energy, and Shikhar Power Development.

Sector-wise, the hotel and tourism group emerged as the top gainer, rising by 1.02%. Hydropower increased by 0.66%, investment by 0.13%, manufacturing and processing by 0.40%, and non-life insurance by 0.46%.

On the losing side, the banking sector declined by 0.47%, development banks by 0.55%, finance by 0.29%, life insurance by 0.46%, microfinance by 0.42%, trading by 0.21%, and others by 1.62%.

Total market turnover stood at NRs 8.66 billion, slightly down from NRs 8.99 billion recorded in the previous session. National Hydropower Company led in trading volume with shares worth Rs 931.9 million exchanged. It was followed by Radhi Power Company with Rs 491.9 million and Reliance Spinning Mills with Rs 454.4 million in transactions.

Overall, the market ended the year with a modest dip, alongside a slight decrease in trading activity.