NEPSE gains 11.77 points as manufacturing stocks draw interest

The stock market rose for a second straight session on Thursday, with the NEPSE index gaining 11.77 points, or 0.44%, to close at 2,629.81.

Trading activity, however, weakened from the previous session. Total turnover stood at NRs 5.45 billion, down from NRs 6.35 billion on Wednesday. A total of 17.27 million shares changed hands through 51,716 transactions.

Of the 356 securities traded, prices of 176 companies advanced, while 95 declined and seven remained unchanged.

The Manufacturing and Processing sub-index led sectoral gains, rising 1.83%. Nepal Lube Oil, Sonapur Minerals and Oil, Ghorahi Cement and Palpa Cement were among the stocks contributing to the sector’s rise.

Twelve of the 13 sectoral indices closed higher. Life Insurance gained 0.70%, Microfinance 0.61%, Banking 0.46%, and Trading 0.97%. Non-Life Insurance was the sole decliner, falling 0.33%.

Nepal Lube Oil posted the largest gain among individual stocks, rising 12.47%, followed by Sonapur Minerals and Oil at 7.65% and Ghorahi Cement at 7.07%. CYC Nepal Microfinance and Kumari Sabal Yojana were also among the notable gainers.

Mid-Solu Hydropower recorded the steepest decline, falling 11.58%, while Dhaulagiri Microfinance dropped 10.19%.

Shivam Cement led turnover with shares worth NRs 358.1 million traded, followed by Himalayan Distillery at NRs 351.6 million and Sanima Middle Tamor Hydropower at NRs 243.5 million.