The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) declined by 0.61%, or 16.68 points, on Sunday, April 20, to close at 2,706.04—marking the first drop in the benchmark index since the start of the Nepali Calendar Year 2082 on Monday, April 14.
The dip follows three straight sessions of gains—1.01% last Tuesday (April 15), 0.26% on Wednesday, and 0.98% on Thursday. Market analysts attributed the decline to profit booking by short-term investors.
Daily turnover also fell to Rs 8.43 billion from Rs 10.79 billion last Thursday. A total of 21.32 million shares changed hands through 74,045 transactions.
Market sentiment remained largely negative, with only 53 of the 246 traded companies posting gains.
All major sub-indices ended in the red, with the Sensitive, Sensitive Float, and Float indices declining by 0.35%, 0.38%, and 0.68%, respectively.
Total market capitalization dropped to Rs 4.49 trillion from Rs 4.52 trillion in the previous trading day.
Nepal Micro Insurance Company Ltd. (NMIC) was the day’s top gainer, soaring 9.99%, followed closely by Crest Micro Life Insurance Ltd. (CREST), which climbed 9.98%.
On the losing side, Himalayan Power Partner Ltd. (HPPL) slumped 7.33%.
In terms of turnover, Radhi Bidyut Company Ltd. (RADHI) topped the list with Rs 687.69 million in trades. Ngadi Group Power Ltd. (NGPL) and Balephi Hydropower Limited (BHL) also reported turnovers exceeding Rs 500 million each.
Among the 13 sectoral indices, only the Trading Index (+1.02%) and Manufacturing & Processing Index (+0.52%) posted gains. The Hotels and Tourism Index fell 1.36%, followed by the Finance Index (-1.27%), Hydropower Index (-1.22%), and Others Index (-1.03%).
