The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) extended its losing streak on Sunday, February 1, with the benchmark index slipping 0.73 percent, or 19.85 points, to close at 2,694.20.
A medium red candlestick with short upper and lower shadows indicated a continuation of the prevailing downtrend trend, although the index remains within a key technical support zone, analysts said.
NEPSE gained 2.12 percent last Sunday, before edging down 0.11 percent on Monday and falling 1.53 percent on Tuesday. The index recovered modestly by 0.18 percent on Wednesday, only to drop again by 0.64 percent on Thursday.
Sunday’s decline mirrored broader regional trends. Indian markets also closed sharply lower as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for the upcoming fiscal year, beginning April 1.
During her budget speech, Sitharaman proposed raising the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on derivatives. “In her Budget speech for 2026–27, Sitharaman said the STT on futures contracts would be raised to 0.05 per cent from 0.02 per cent, following which stock markets spooked,” The Economic Times reported. “The Nifty50 ended the special trading session at 24,825.45, down 593 points or 2.33 percent, while the BSE Sensex closed at 80,722.94, down 1,843 points or 2.23 percent.”
Market breadth on NEPSE remained weak, with 201 securities declining, 50 advancing and nine remaining unchanged.
All major sub-indices ended in negative territory. The Sensitive Index and the Sensitive Float Index each fell 0.59 percent, while the Float Index declined 0.76 percent.
Trading activity slowed significantly. A total of 22,060,454 shares were traded through 110,728 transactions, down from 35.48 million shares across 138,883 transactions on Thursday. Total turnover also contracted to Rs 9.10 billion from Rs 14.56 billion the previous trading day.
On the gainers’ side, Mithila Laghu Bitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (MLBBL) jumped 9.70 percent, followed by Crest Micro Life Insurance Limited (CREST), which rose 8.19 percent. Notably, MLBBL had been among the two biggest losers in the previous session.
Corporate Development Bank Limited (CORBL) was the biggest loser, hitting the lower circuit for the second consecutive trading day.
Ankhu Khola Jalvidhyut Company Ltd (AKJCL) led turnover with transactions worth Rs 555.24 million, followed by SY Panel Nepal Limited (SYPNL) and Radhi Bidyut Company Ltd (RADHI).
Among sectoral indices, only the Trading Index posted gains, rising 0.55 percent. The Hotels and Tourism Index recorded the steepest fall, down 1.75 percent, followed by the Hydropower Index, which declined 1.36 percent. The Banking sub-index recorded the smallest drop, slipping 0.42 percent.
Total market capitalisation fell to Rs 4,523.63 billion from Rs 4,556.96 billion on Thursday.
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