The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) Index declined by 0.45% or 12.04 points on Thursday, May 8, to close at 2,661.64, reversing its 2.38% gain on Wednesday and a marginal 0.03% uptick on Tuesday.

Prior to this brief rebound, the index had posted losses for five consecutive sessions—dipping 0.04% on Sunday and 0.38% on Monday this week, and 0.30%, 0.57%, and 0.54% on Wednesday, Tuesday, and Monday of the previous week, respectively.

Despite the dip in the index, investor participation surged. Daily turnover exceeds Rs 11.6 billion, up from over Rs 10.51 billion in the previous session.

Over 30.7 million shares were traded across 103,319 transactions.

Of the 246 companies traded, 96 recorded gains while 150 declined.

All major sub-indices ended in positive territory. The Sensitive Index rose by 0.52%, the Float Index climbed 0.39%, and the Sensitive Float Index increased 0.61%.

Nepal Micro Insurance Company Limited (NMIC) and Crest Micro Life Insurance Limited (CREST) hit their upper circuit limits, emerging as the day’s top gainers. Chhyangdi Hydropower Ltd. (CHL) and Om Megashree Pharmaceuticals Limited (OMPL) followed closely with gains of 9.99% each.

On the flip side, Sindhu Bikash Bank Ltd. (SINDU) was the day’s biggest loser, tumbling 4.15%.

Ngadi Group Power Ltd. (NGPL) topped the turnover chart, followed by Sanima Mai Hydropower Ltd. (SHPC) and Universal Power Company Ltd. (UPCL).

Among NEPSE’s 13 sectoral indices, only five closed in positive territory. The Finance Index led with a strong gain of 4.30%, while the Trading Index suffered the sharpest decline, falling by 2%.

By the end of the session, the total market capitalization had slipped to approximately Rs 4.42 trillion, down from Rs 4.44 trillion in the previous session.