NEPSE falls 7.37 points despite higher trading turnover

Nepal’s stock market closed lower on Friday, with the NEPSE index falling 7.37 points, or 0.28%, to 2,643.83.

Despite the decline in the benchmark index, trading activity improved. Total turnover rose to NRs 4.28 billion, up from around NRs 3.72 billion on Thursday. Investors traded 97.54 million shares of 344 securities during the session.

Market breadth remained negative, with 164 companies declining, compared with 101 gainers, while 12 securities closed unchanged.

Among the biggest gainers, Mount Everest Power Development surged 15%, reaching NRs 456.20 per share. Sarvottam Paints also climbed 14.99% to NRs 396.70. Both companies hit the positive circuit limit.

On the losing side, Super Khudi Hydropower recorded the steepest decline, falling 12.83% to NRs 870. Citizen Samunnat Scheme dropped 8.33% to NRs 8.25 per unit.

Of the 13 sectoral indices, four advanced while nine declined. The Trading sector posted the largest loss, falling 2.57%. Other notable declines included Investment (0.92%), Finance (0.73%) and Non-Life Insurance (0.43%). Life Insurance, Microfinance, Mutual Funds and the Others sector posted gains.

In terms of turnover, Agriculture Development Bank Bond recorded the highest transaction value at about NRs 708.7 million, with the bond trading at NRs 1,016, up 1.60% from the previous session. Khanikhola Hydropower recorded the highest turnover among individual shares, with approximately NRs 179.8 million worth of shares changing hands.

The Friday session marked a reversal after the market had gained for three consecutive days, although the rise in turnover suggests that investor participation remained relatively strong.