The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) fell for a second straight day, dropping 0.28% (7.75 points) to close at 2,698.28 on Monday, April 21, following a 0.61% decline the previous day.
Sunday’s fall marked the first dip in the benchmark index since the start of the Nepali Calendar Year 2082 on April 14. Prior to that, NEPSE had posted three consecutive gains: 1.01% on April 15, 0.26% on April 16, and 0.98% on April 17.
Despite the decline in index, daily turnover rose above Rs 8.77 billion, compared to around Rs 8.43 billion on Sunday.
A total of 21.20 million shares across 319 scrips changed hands in 78,678 transactions on the second trading day of the week.
Of the 245 traded companies, 112 advanced, 133 declined, and one remained unchanged.
All major sub-indices ended in negative territory. The Sensitive Index dipped 0.16%, while both the Sensitive Float Index and the Float Index fell 0.25% each.
Nepal Micro Insurance Company Ltd. (NMIC) and Crest Micro Life Insurance Ltd. (CREST) were the top gainers, rising 9.99% each.
On the downside, the 12% Goodwill Finance Ltd. Debenture 2083 (GWFD83) saw the sharpest drop, losing 7.75%.
In terms of turnover, Ngadi Group Power Ltd. (NGPL) led the charts, followed by Universal Power Company Ltd. (UPCL) and Hydroelectricity Investment and Development Company Ltd. (HIDCL).
Among the 13 sectoral indices, six ended higher. The Hydropower Index posted the strongest gain at 0.77%, while the Trading Index recorded the steepest loss of 1.52%.
Total market capitalization declined to Rs 4.48 trillion from Rs 4.49 trillion the previous day.
