On the last trading day of the week, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index fell by 37.10 points, or 1.35%, closing at 2,782. The Sensitive Index, which tracks strong and leading companies, also dropped by 1.18% to 477.69 points.
A total of 17,891,917 shares from 322 listed companies were traded today, amounting to over Rs 8.09 billion in transactions.
Market analyst Saroj Bhattarai said the upcoming festival season is starting to affect the market. Many small investors are selling their shares to free up cash, which is putting pressure on prices. He expects the market to move sideways until Dashain and Tihar.
Another analyst, Yagya Ghimire, pointed out that weak investor confidence, quick profit booking, lack of new money entering the market, and restrictions on bank investments are also dragging the market down.
Out of the 13 trading sectors, all except the mutual fund sector ended in the red. Mutual funds rose by 0.19%, while the development bank sector saw the biggest fall at 2.43%. Other major losses included finance (-1.83%), hotels (-1.68%), hydropower (-1.43%), investment (-1.55%), life insurance (-1.54%), manufacturing (-1.71%), microfinance (-1.39%), non-life insurance (-0.07%), others (-1.71%), trade (-0.68%), and banking (-0.86%).
Top traded stocks today included Nepal Reinsurance Company (Rs 654 million), Himalayan Reinsurance (Rs 609 million), Himalayan Distillery (Rs 350 million), Shivam Cement (Rs 224 million), and United Modi Hydropower (Rs 194 million).
On the gainers’ side, Vikas Hydropower hit the 10% upper circuit. Mailung Khola Hydropower gained 3.62%, Tristar Hydropower rose 3.41%, and NLG Insurance increased by 3.19%.
Among the biggest losers, Oriental Hotel fell 4.71%, Lumbini Bikas Bank dropped 4.18%, Shangrila Development Bank fell 3.87%, and Sikles Hydropower declined by 3.80%.
