NEPSE index falls 0.96 pc to 2,755.37 as liquidity remains strong

KATHMANDU: Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) fell on Monday, with the benchmark index losing 0.96% to close at 2,755.37 points.

Despite the fall, market liquidity remained robust, with a total turnover of Rs 5,614,374,928.74. Investors were active throughout the session as 13,383,816 shares changed hands across 63,719 transactions, and 349 different scrips were traded.

The Sensitive Index, which tracks Class A companies, also moved lower, ending at 470.70 points after 1% drop.

In sectoral terms, performance was mixed but largely negative. Only two sectoral indices recorded gains: the Others Index rose 3.36% and the Non-Life Insurance Index increased 1.37%. All remaining sectors closed in the red. The Hydropower Index registered the steepest fall, down 1.97%. The Manufacturing and Processing Index declined 1.42%, and the Hotels and Tourism Index declined 1.40%. The Banking sub-index 0.99%, the Development Bank Index slipped 0.81% and the Life Insurance Index  0.79%. The Microfinance and Finance indices fell 0.6% and 0.5%, respectively.

Among individual stocks, Nepal Reinsurance Company (NRIC) and Kalinchock Hydropower (KHPL) were the top gainers, each climbing 14.99%. Other notable advancers included the 10% Citizens Bank Debenture 2090 (CIZBD90), up 6.02%; Central Finance Company (CFCL), up 5.76%; and the Civil Bank Debenture 2088 (CBLD88), which rose 5.6%.

On the downside, Bungal Hydro (BUNGAL) led the losses with a 13.2% decline. Crest Micro Life Insurance (CREST) fell 6.95%, Bishal Bazar Company (BBC) dropped 6.64%, NIBL Samriddhi Fund -2 (NIBSF2) lost 5.64% and Nepal Republic Media (NRM) slipped 5.16%.

Liquidity and volume were dominated by Ankhu Khola Jalvidhyut Company (AKJCL), which recorded the highest turnover at Rs 430,451,751.50 with 997,531 shares traded. Meanwhile, Nepal Reinsurance Company (NRIC) topped the transactions chart with 3,322 individual trades.