Kathmandu [Nepal], August 5 – Nepal’s stock market ended slightly lower on Wednesday despite an increase in trading activity, with the benchmark Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index slipping 4.79 points to close at 2,667.
Total daily turnover rose to Rs 4.40 billion from Rs 4.07 billion recorded in the previous trading session reflecting stronger market activity even as the broader index declined.
Share prices of 122 listed companies advanced during the session, while 143 declined and 11 remained unchanged.
Solu Hydropower led the market by turnover followed by Ridi Power, Khanikhola Hydropower, Everest Color and Central Finance.
Among individual stocks Solu Hydropower posted the biggest gain of the day surging 15 percent. Everest Color registered the steepest decline falling 9.03 percent.
Sector-wise, the hydropower index was the top performer rising 1.60 percent. The hotel and tourism sector gained 0.22 percent while the manufacturing and processing index edged up 0.02 percent. The “others” group also advanced 0.26 percent.
However, losses in several financial sectors weighed on the benchmark index. Banking fell 0.42 percent, development banks declined 0.50 percent, finance dropped 0.34 percent, investment slipped 0.06 percent, life insurance eased 0.07 percent, microfinance lost 0.32 percent and non-life insurance declined 0.10 percent.
