NEPSE falls for fourth straight day, turnover jumps 58%

The stock market closed lower for the fourth consecutive trading session on Tuesday, with the benchmark NEPSE Index slipping 1.54 points, or 0.06%, to settle at 2,733.59.

The index fell to an intraday low of 2,702 points before recovering most of its losses by the close. The latest decline extends a four-day losing streak that has seen the market shed more than 45 points since last Thursday.

While the benchmark remained in negative territory, trading activity strengthened significantly. Daily turnover climbed to NRs 6.4 billion, up 58% from NRs 4.1 billion in the previous session, marking the highest daily turnover since mid-April.

Market breadth remained weak, with 151 stocks declining, 105 advancing, and a handful closing unchanged.

Among sectoral indices, Finance posted the steepest loss, falling 1.01%. Development Banks declined 0.06%, Investment 0.12%, Life Insurance 0.37%, Microfinance 0.20%, Non-Life Insurance 0.46%, and Trading 0.38%. Banking remained largely flat.

Gains in Hydropower (+0.01%), Hotels and Tourism (+0.12%), Manufacturing and Processing (+0.26%), and the Others category (+0.29%) helped the market recover from its intraday lows.

Newly listed companies led the gainers. Sopan Pharmaceuticals surged 15% to NRs 349.70 per share, while Kalinchowk Hydropower gained 14.99% to close at NRs 1,001.80. Saptakoshi Development Bank rose 10.98%, followed by Upakar Laghubitta (+8.70%) and Upper Hewakhola Hydropower (+6.17%).

On the losing side, Crest Micro Life Insurance dropped 9.16%, the steepest decline of the day. Samudayik Laghubitta fell 7.37%, while Corporate Development Bank and Multipurpose Finance lost 4.39% and 3.05%, respectively.

Agriculture Bond recorded the highest turnover, with transactions worth approximately NRs 570 million. Among listed equities, Central Finance emerged as the most actively traded stock, followed by Ankhu Khola Hydropower, Upper Hewakhola Hydropower, Nepal Reinsurance, Ridi Power, and Shivam Cements.

Of the 13 sectoral indices traded on Tuesday, four ended higher while nine closed lower, highlighting mixed investor sentiment despite the sharp increase in trading activity.