NEPSE rebounds modestly as turnover slips below NRs 3 billion, TAKSAR opens IPO

The stock market posted a modest recovery on Thursday, with the NEPSE index rising 6.94 points to close at 2,718.16. However, overall trading turnover declined, falling below three-billion-mark, signalling continued cautious sentiment among investors.

The market gained support from advances in eight out of 13 sector indices, while five sectors declined. The trading sector recorded the strongest growth, climbing 1.57%. Finance, investment, manufacturing and processing, mutual funds, and non-life insurance were among the sectors that fell.

Share prices of 155 companies increased, while 102 declined and 12 remained unchanged.

Among the gainers, Swabalamban Laghubitta posted the biggest rise, surging 12.19% to NRs 810 per share. Srijanshil Laghubitta also advanced 4.29% to NRs 1,482 per share.

On the losing side, Forward Microfinance investors suffered the largest decline, with the stock falling 13.24% to NRs 1,127.90 per share. Upper Lohore Khola Hydropower also dropped sharply, losing around 9%.

Despite the rise in the benchmark index, daily turnover fell to NRs 2.93 billion from over NRs 3 billion the previous day. A total of 6.68 million shares of 334 securities were traded.

NRN Infrastructure recorded the highest turnover of the day, with shares worth NRs 176.8 million traded, even though its share price slipped 2.52%. National Hydropower followed with transactions worth NRs 143.4 million, while Reliance Spinning Mills also saw strong trading activity.

Taksar Pikhuwa Khola Hydropower opens it IPO

Separately, Taksar Pikhuwa Khola Hydropower opened its initial public offering (IPO) to the general public on Wednesday. The company is issuing 4.23 million shares, equivalent to 35.26% of its NRs 1.2 billion paid-up capital. After allocations for project-affected locals, migrant workers, mutual funds, and employees, 2.51 million shares remain available for the public.

Applications for the IPO can be submitted until Baisakh 28 through the Mero Share system or ASBA member banks and financial institutions.