NEPSE Cap Rises to Rs 4,526.2 Billion

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index, which has been under pressure in recent sessions, traded largely flat on Monday, February 2, ending marginally higher after a volatile day.

After opening with a gap down at 2,680.34, the benchmark index recovered to close 0.05 percent, or 1.53 points, higher at 2,695.73. Notably, nearly four points were added in the final three minutes of trading.

Analysts said the market attempted to move higher but failed to sustain momentum, as reflected by a medium-sized green candlestick with a long upper wick. The index is currently in a consolidation phase, with sellers showing reluctance to offload shares at lower levels.

The index’s recent performance has been volatile. NEPSE gained 2.12 percent last Sunday before slipping 0.11 percent on Monday and falling 1.53 percent on Tuesday. It recovered modestly by 0.18 percent on Wednesday, only to decline again by 0.64 percent on Thursday.

Market breadth remained mixed on Monday, with 114 stocks advancing, 134 declining and 13 remaining unchanged.

Among the major sub-indices, the Float Index edged up by 0.05 percent, while the Sensitive Index declined by 0.16 percent and the Sensitive Float Index slipped 0.08 percent.

Trading activity eased compared to the previous session. More than 17.5 million shares were traded through 91,061 transactions, down from over 22 million shares across 110,728 transactions on Sunday. Daily turnover also fell to Rs 8.22 billion from Rs 9.10 billion.

SY Panel Nepal Limited (SYPNL), Shreenagar Agritech Industries Limited (SAIL) and Him Star Urja Company Limited (HIMSTAR) hit the upper circuit limit to emerge as the top gainers of the day.

In contrast, Mithila Laghu Bitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (MLBBL) hit the lower circuit limit and ended as the day’s biggest loser.

Ankhu Khola Jalvidhyut Company Ltd (AKJCL) led the turnover chart with transactions worth Rs 414.99 million, after topping the previous session with Rs 555.24 million. SY Panel Nepal Limited and Bandipur Cablecar and Tourism Limited followed.

Of the 13 sectoral indices, eight closed in negative territory. The Hotels and Tourism Index recorded the highest gain, rising 1.77 percent, followed by Manufacturing and Processing, which advanced 1.45 percent. The Finance Index posted the steepest decline, falling 0.89 percent.

Total market capitalisation edged up to Rs 4,526.20 billion from Rs 4,523.63 billion the previous day.