NEPSE closes lower despite rising trading volume

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) ended the week’s final trading day, Thursday, with a decline, even as market activity picked up.

The benchmark index slipped by 17.35 points, closing at 2,714.05, signaling a cautious sentiment among investors. Despite the index drop, total turnover increased sharply, rising from Rs 1.149 billion on Wednesday to Rs 1.456 billion. Traders exchanged 354,779,939 shares across 320 listed companies during the day.

Out of the active companies, 85 saw their share prices rise, while 170 experienced declines, and five remained unchanged. Notably, companies with share prices below Rs 300 recorded the highest gains, led by Himal Dolakha Hydropower and Shivshree Hydropower, whose stocks surged 9.23% and 9.19%, reaching Rs 213 and Rs 196 per share, respectively.

Conversely, three companies hit the negative circuit, with Corporate Development Bank, Mithila Laghubitta, and Sapta Koshi Development Bank losing 10% each. In terms of trading volume, Ngadi Group Power led the market, with shares worth Rs 599 million exchanged at Rs 430 per share, marking a 2.38% increase from the previous day.

SY Panel followed closely, with shares worth Rs 522.9 million traded at Rs 1,940 each. Among the 13 sectoral indices active today, only three recorded gains, while 10 declined. The Development Bank Group Index faced the steepest drop, falling 2.23%.

Overall, Thursday’s session highlighted a mixed market, where rising volumes contrasted with declining indices, reflecting both active trading and cautious investor sentiment.