Market falls 19 points as trading activity slows

The stock market declined sharply on Tuesday, with the NEPSE index falling 19.34 points to close at 2,622.48.

Trading activity also weakened compared with the previous session. Total turnover stood at NRs 5.07 billion, down 8.18% from Monday’s NRs 5.53 billion. Investors traded 15.2 million shares of 347 listed securities through 55,246 transactions.

Market breadth was firmly negative, with 217 companies recording losses, while 57 gained and five remained unchanged. The decline reduced the market value of investors in 218 companies.

Among the gainers, Sarbottam Paints and Mount Everest Power Development hit positive circuit limits, rising 14.99% and 14.98%, respectively. Their share prices closed at NRs 524.60 and NRs 603.20.

Sagarmatha Jalabidhyut was the biggest decliner, dropping 10.63% to NRs 429 per share. Khanikhola Hydropower followed with a 9.67% decline to NRs 299.

Of the 13 sectoral indices, only the Trading group advanced. The Manufacturing and Processing index posted the steepest decline, falling 1.40%.

Agriculture Development Bank’s Agriculture Bond recorded the highest turnover at NRs 506.8 million, with the bond trading at NRs 1,012, down 0.39% from the previous session. Solu Hydropower ranked second in turnover, with shares worth Rs 391.4 million changing hands at NRs 687.80.

In terms of volume, Siddhartha Investment Growth Scheme led the market, with 1.88 million units traded.

Overall, Tuesday’s session reflected broad-based selling pressure, with declines across nearly all sectors and a notable slowdown in trading value.