KATHMANDU: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index closed lower on Tuesday, the second trading day of the week, extending its recent decline. The benchmark NEPSE index dropped by 4.64 points, or 0.17 percent, to settle at 2,696.67 points. In the previous trading session, the index had fallen by 33.28 points to 2,701.32.

Share prices of 98 companies advanced during the session, while 166 companies recorded losses. A total of 10,421,863 shares of 342 companies were traded through 55,580 transactions.
Daily turnover declined to Rs 4.42 billion, compared with Rs 6.08 billion recorded in the previous session. Everest Color Limited emerged as the top gainer of the day, with its share price rising by 15 percent. In terms of turnover, Central Finance Limited recorded the highest trading value, with shares worth Rs 271.4 million changing hands.

Among the 13 sectoral indices, nine closed in negative territory, while four posted gains. The Investment subgroup recorded the largest decline of 0.79 percent, whereas the Trading subgroup registered the highest gain of 0.74 percent.