NEPSE gains 30 points; SEBON chair selection advances

NEPSE staged a strong rebound on Wednesday, gaining 30 points as turnover climbed to NRs 3.82 billion, while SEBON chairperson shortlisted four candidates.

-the_farsight | May 20, 2026, 5:32 p.m.

The NEPSE index rose by 30.08 points (1.10%) to close at 2,754.48, with a full-session rally that held until the market closed. The rebound comes after a previous decline, signaling renewed investor confidence.

On Tuesday, the market had fallen by 6.45 points with turnover improving to NRs 3.1 billion. On Wednesday, turnover further improved to NRs 3.82 billion. A total of 10.66 million shares were exchanged across 346 listed companies.

Market breadth was strongly positive, with 248 stocks advancing, 21 declining, and one remaining unchanged. All sectoral indices closed higher, with hydropower and hotel & tourism leading gains at 1.89% each.

Among standout movers, Upper Lohore Khola Hydropower hit the upper circuit with a 15% surge, while Mountain Hydro Nepal gained 11.88%. On the losing side, Corporate Development Bank dropped 13.26%, emerging as the day’s steepest loser.

Corporate Development Bank also topped turnover with NRs 183.5 million in trades, followed by Aankhu Khola Hydropower and Api Power, reflecting continued concentration in hydropower and select financial stocks.

SEBON Chair appointment narrows to four candidates

In a parallel development, the government has shortlisted four candidates for the chairperson of the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), out of 47 applicants.

The shortlisted candidates are Dr. Navaraj Adhikari, Binay Dev Acharya, Mukunda Kumar Chhetri, and Dr. Gopal Bhatt. They have been invited for discussions at the Ministry of Finance.

The recommendation committee will forward at least three names to the Cabinet, which will make the final appointment. Most shortlisted candidates have prior experience in Nepal Rastra Bank or SEBON, highlighting a preference for regulatory expertise and institutional familiarity.

Earlier, Gunakar Bhatta, vice-chairperson of the National Planning Commission, resigned as coordinator of the SEBON chair recommendation committee, citing a potential conflict of interest as his cousin, Gopal Prasad Bhatta, remained a candidate for the post.