Trading Slows, NEPSE Retreats

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index fell 0.92 percent, or 26.07 points, to close at 2,798.83 on Monday, March 16.

The market had closed 0.15 percent higher on Sunday, the first trading day of the week.

Trading activity weakened on Monday. More than 30.79 million shares were traded through 102,759 transactions, down from 39.5 million shares traded through 124,490 transactions on Sunday.

Total turnover also declined to Rs 11.97 billion from Rs 14.32 billion the previous day.

Among the major sub-indices, the Float Index dropped 1.06 percent, the Sensitive Index fell 1.31 percent, and the Sensitive Float Index declined 1.26 percent.

Of the traded companies, 211 declined, 48 advanced and four remained unchanged.

Salapa Bikas Bank Limited, Reliance Spinning Mills Limited, Upper Hewakhola Hydropower Company Limited and Solu Hydropower Limited were the day’s top gainers, hitting the upper circuit limit.

Shares of Salapa Bikas Bank closed at Rs 1,147.70 per share, while Reliance Spinning Mills ended at Rs 1,033.20 per share.

Siddhartha Equity Fund was the biggest loser, dropping 4.39 percent.

In terms of turnover, Ankhu Khola Jalvidhyut Company led the chart with shares worth Rs 687.72 million traded. It was followed by National Hydro Power Company Limited and Upper Hewakhola Hydropower Company Limited.

Of the 13 sectoral indices, only the Manufacturing and Processing index ended in positive territory, rising 0.25 percent.

The Banking sub-index recorded the steepest decline, falling 1.61 percent. It was followed by the Investment index, down 1.52 percent, and the Others index, which dropped 1.09 percent.

Total market capitalisation declined to Rs 4,743.28 billion from Rs 4,754.46 billion at the close of the previous trading day.