KATHMANDU: Nepal’s stock market ended the week lower, with the NEPSE Index declining 1.79%, as weaker investor sentiment dragged down trading activity and erased Rs84 billion from the market’s total capitalization.
The benchmark index fell 49.06 points to close at 2,685.54, down from 2,734.60 at the end of the previous week.
The market remained open for all five trading sessions this week. NEPSE declined in four sessions and posted gains in only one.
The Sensitive Index dropped 3.34 points, while the Float Index fell 2.81 points and the Sensitive Float Index lost 1.05 points.
Trading activity also slowed significantly during the week. Average daily turnover declined to Rs4.33 billion, down 23.48% from Rs5.66 billion recorded a week earlier. The average daily number of shares traded fell by 19%, while the average number of transactions decreased by 18.81%.
The market’s total capitalization dropped from Rs4.699 trillion to Rs4.615 trillion, reflecting a weekly loss of approximately Rs84 billion.
Of the 13 sectoral indices, only the Banking Index posted gains, edging up 0.15% to 1,491.29 points. The remaining 12 sectors closed lower.
The Manufacturing and Processing Index was the week’s worst-performing sector, plunging 3.53% or 389.63 points to 10,659.55, marking the largest decline both in percentage and point terms.
Among individual stocks, Everest Color emerged as the week’s top gainer, with its share price soaring 104.23%, from Rs641.10 to Rs1,309.30. Saptakoshi Development Bank also posted gains of more than 6.5%.
On the losing side, Corporate Development Bank recorded the steepest decline, falling 27.70%, while Atmanirbhar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha lost more than 15% during the week.
According to floor-sheet analysis, Nadep Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha, Asha Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha, and Laxmi Unnati Kosh ranked among the week’s most actively bought stocks. Meanwhile, Forward Microfinance Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha, Makar Jitumaya Suri Hydropower, and Mahila Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha were among the most actively sold stocks.
