The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index declined by 14.54 points, or 0.57 percent, last week, although hydropower stocks recovered after suffering heavy losses in the previous week following the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods.
The benchmark index opened the four-day trading week at 2,557.31 points and closed at 2,542.77 points. During the week, the index reached a high of 2,556.96 points and fell to a low of 2,501.49 points, reflecting a volatility of 55.47 points.
Of the four trading days, the market declined only on Monday, when the index dropped by 43.89 points. The largest single-day gain was recorded on Wednesday, when the index rose by 15.44 points. Trading remained closed on Friday due to the public holiday for Shree Krishna Janmashtami.
Among the sectoral indices, the manufacturing and processing group recorded the largest gain, rising by 67.14 points, or 0.64 percent. The trading, banking and investment sectors also posted gains. Meanwhile, non-life insurance was the worst-performing sector, plunging by 443.08 points, or 4.55 percent.
Among individual companies, Upakar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha recorded the highest gain, with its share price increasing by 21.51 percent. Pure Energy suffered the largest loss, declining by 13.80 percent.
The average daily turnover fell to Rs 3.241 billion, compared to Rs 3.977 billion in the previous week. Meanwhile, the total market capitalization declined from Rs 4.398 trillion to Rs 4.373 trillion, reducing investors’ book value by approximately Rs 25 billion.
In the previous week, investors had lost Rs 105.60 billion in market capitalization amid concerns over the impact of the devastating Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods.
