NEPSE retreats after six-day winning streak

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) ended its six-day rally on Wednesday, with the benchmark index falling 13.95 points to close at 2,712.54, as selling pressure weighed on most sectors.

The market traded in negative territory throughout the session, briefly slipping to an intraday low of 2,694 points before recovering modestly by the close. Alongside the decline in the index, market turnover also weakened. Total trading value dropped to NRs 5.18 billion, down from NRs 6.67 billion in the previous session. A total of 11.36 million shares of 346 listed securities were traded during the day.

Market breadth remained negative, with 193 companies posting losses, while 77 advanced and seven closed unchanged.

Most sectoral indices finished lower. Only the Finance and Manufacturing & Processing sectors registered gains. The Trading index suffered the sharpest decline, falling 2.60%, followed by Non-Life Insurance, which slipped 1.26%. Banking, development banks, hydropower, hotels and tourism, investment, life insurance, microfinance, and other sectors also ended in the red.

Among individual stocks, Everest Color emerged as the top gainer, hitting the daily upper circuit with a 14.99% jump. Bungal Hydropower followed with a 10.50% rise, while Salapa Development Bank, Pure Energy, and Shrinagar Agritech also recorded notable gains.

On the losing side, 9.5% NCC Debenture 2086 declined 7.16%, making it the day's biggest loser. 8.5% Nepal Investment Debenture 2084 also fell 5.63%.

Ridi Power Company led the market in terms of turnover, with shares worth NRs 423 million changing hands. NRN Infrastructure ranked second with NRs 281 million, followed by Reliance Spinning Mills, which recorded transactions worth NRs 263.2 million.