NEPSE rises 33.29 points as hydropower stocks drive market rally

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) rose 33.29 points, or 1.27%, to close at 2,664.06 points on Wednesday, supported by strong buying interest in hydropower stocks and gains across most sectoral indices.

The market had declined by 4.34 points on the first trading day after the Dashain holiday but has gained in each of the following two sessions, indicating a recovery in investor sentiment.

Market turnover saw a significant increase on Wednesday as well, rising by 28.61% to NRs 7.46 billion, as compared to NRs 5.80 billion in the previous trading session. A total of 19.40 million shares were traded across 348 securities.

Hydropower emerged as the best-performing sector, with its index gaining 2.06%. Life insurance rose 1.59%, investment and finance gained 1.55%, banking advanced 1.36%, and hotels increased 1.34%. All sectoral indices except trading ended the session in positive territory.

Beni Hydropower led the gainers, surging 15% to hit the positive circuit limit. Butwal Power Company followed with a 10.60% gain, while Super Khudi Hydropower and NRN Infrastructure and Development advanced 6.26% and 6.22%, respectively.

Hydropower companies also dominated trading activity. Liberty Energy recorded the highest turnover at NRs 325.07 million, followed by Ghalemdi Hydro at NRs 282.64 million, Butwal Power Company at NRs 264.34 million, and Api Power at NRs 191.70 million.

Investor gains were widespread, with share prices of 241 companies rising, while 35 companies recorded declines. Prime Debenture was the biggest loser, falling 2.96%, followed by Garima Samriddhi Yojana, down 2.75%, Shrijanshil Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha, down 2.30%, and Chirkhwa Hydropower, down 2.12%.

The strong performance of hydropower stocks and increased trading turnover helped sustain NEPSE’s upward momentum, with the benchmark index extending its recovery following the Dashain holiday.