The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index dropped by 0.16 percent, or 4.45 points, on Wednesday, February 5, closing at 2,711.45.

However, daily turnover surged, totaling over Rs 8.95 billion. It had exceeded Rs 8.91 billion the previous day. 

A total of 19,181,414 shares changed hands through 90,752 transactions.

All major indices ended the day in the red.  The Sensitive Index declined by 0.23 percent, while the Float Index and the Sensitive Float Index slipped by 0.08  percent and 0.18 percent, respectively.

Upakar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (ULBSL) and Chhyangdi Hydropower Ltd. (CHL) became the top gainer of the day hitting the upper circuit limit. Central Finance Co. Ltd. (CFCL) and Pokhara Finance Ltd. (PFL) closely followed, posting gains of 9.99  percent and 9.81 percent, respectively.

Conversely, Samudayik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SLBSL) and Corporate Development Bank Limited (CORBL) hit the lower circuit limit, making them the day's biggest losers.

In terms of turnover, Nepal Reinsurance Company Limited (NRIC) led the market, followed by Himalayan Power Partner Ltd. (HPPL) and Synergy Power Development Ltd. (SPDL). 

Of the 13 NEPSE sub-indices, only five ended the day in the green. The Finance Index recorded the highest gain of 5.67 percent, while the Trading Index suffered the biggest decline of 1.42 percent.