The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index fell by 10.14 points, or 0.37%, closing at 2,704.70 on Monday, March 17. This decline follows a 21.63-point drop in the previous session.
Last Wednesday, March 12, the index had briefly rebounded by 0.63%, ending a seven-day losing streak that erased 171.06 points. This downturn came after a nine-day rally had pushed the market up by 211.78 points.
Trading activity also slowed on the second trading day of the week, with the daily turnover shrinking to just above Rs 5.40 billion, down from over Rs 6.83 billion on Sunday. More than 9.9 million shares changed hands across 57,585 transactions, indicating reduced investor participation.
All three major indices closed in the red. The Sensitive Index dipped 0.21%, the Float Index fell 0.20%, and the Sensitive Float Index declined 0.23%.
Among individual stocks, Rapti Hydro and General Construction Limited (RHGCL) posted the highest gain, surging 9.86%. Conversely, Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank Ltd. (MLBL) suffered the steepest loss, dropping 5.41%.
Himalayan Reinsurance Limited (HRL) recorded the highest turnover, followed by Nepal Reinsurance Company Limited (NRIC) and Mahalaxmi Bikas Bank Ltd. (MLBL).
Of the 13 sectoral indices, only four closed higher, with the Manufacturing and Processing Index leading gains at 0.44%. The Trading Index saw the sharpest decline, plummeting 3.38%.
