Market ends flat at 2,700 amid lower trading activity

The stock market ended nearly flat on Monday, with the Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) index slipping 1.46 points to close at 2,700.65 after fluctuating throughout the trading session.

Most sectoral indices finished in the red, with only the finance, microfinance and trading sectors posting gains. The finance sector emerged as the strongest performer, rising 1.01%, signaling renewed investor interest despite broader market weakness.

A total of 116 companies recorded gains, while 143 declined and 14 remained unchanged. Among the top performers, newly listed Taksar Pikhuwa Khola Hydropower and Yambaling Hydropower hit the positive circuit limit, with their share prices surging 15% to NRs 345 per share.

Trading turnover also eased from the previous session. Daily transaction value fell to NRs 4.45 billion from NRs 4.53 billion recorded on Friday.

Sopan Pharmaceuticals led the market in turnover, with shares worth NRs 374.4 million changing hands. NRN Infrastructure followed with transactions totaling NRs 305.1 million.

On the losing side, Nepal Bank Debenture posted the steepest decline, dropping 3.87%. Guardian Micro Life Insurance and Bhujung Hydropower also registered losses of more than 3%.

Among sectoral indices, the mutual fund segment suffered the biggest drop, falling 0.68%. Overall, market sentiment remained cautious as investors await the upcoming monetary policy of Nepal Rastra Bank, which is expected to provide direction for the market in the coming weeks.