On Thursday, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) experienced a significant decline, dropping by 31.31 points to close at 2,680.44 points. The market opened at 2,711.75 points and initially saw a slight upward movement, reaching a high of 2,722.59 points within the first 11 minutes of trading. However, the market quickly reversed course and began a steady decline, hitting its lowest point at 2,677.23 points just before the closing bell. The market did recover slightly in the final moments of trading, gaining around three points by the close.
The sensitive index, which tracks the performance of ‘A’ class companies, also saw a dip, falling by 5.53 points. Notably, the total daily turnover surged to Rs 8.25 billion, up from Rs 7.09 billion on Wednesday.
In terms of market breadth, only 43 companies recorded gains, while 197 companies saw losses. All 13 sectors ended the day in the red. The life insurance sector was hit hardest, with its index falling by 181.15 points. Other sectors also faced significant losses, with five groups losing more than 100 points in their respective indices.
Among individual stocks, Nepal Finance Ltd led the market in terms of turnover, with shares worth Rs 252.41 million traded. On the other hand, Janaki Finance Company Limited was the biggest loser on the day. Notably, two companies—Samudayik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd and Three Star Hydropower Ltd—saw a remarkable gain of 10% in their market value.
This downturn in the stock market reflects broader negative sentiment, with the majority of stocks and sectors suffering losses despite some standout performances from a few companies.
