June 18, Kathmandu – Following a 44-point rise the previous day, the stock market advanced by an additional 8.78 points on Thursday. The sharp growth in the banking sector strengthened the overall stock market, with the NEPSE index closing at 2661 points. After declining consecutively for seven trading days, the market started gaining momentum from Wednesday onward. Although the market remained predominantly in the red throughout the day, it surged in the last 45 minutes to close in the green.
Trading volume also increased, rising from NPR 386 crore the previous day to NPR 411 crore today. However, most companies experienced a decline in share prices. Out of the total, 108 companies saw price increases, 152 companies’ prices dropped, and 13 companies remained unchanged.
Among companies with large capitalizations, mainly commercial banks witnessed price gains, which contributed to the overall market increase despite many companies recording losses. The banking sector was the primary driver behind today’s positive close, with its index climbing significantly by 2.04 percent. Similarly, the finance sector rose by 0.28 percent, life insurance by 0.16 percent, and microfinance by 0.05 percent. In contrast, development banks fell by 0.11 percent, hotel and tourism by 0.13 percent, hydropower by 0.26 percent, investment by 0.03 percent, manufacturing and processing by 0.86 percent, non-life insurance by 0.34 percent, others by 0.20 percent, and trade by 0.50 percent.
Four companies recorded price increases exceeding 15 percent. These include Kalanga Hydropower, Snow River Falls, Sanigadh Hydropower, and Upper Lohorekhola Hydropower Company, three of which were recently listed. Additionally, Dhaulagiri Microfinance rose by 13.67 percent, Atmanirbhar Microfinance by 10.09 percent, and Crest Micro Life Insurance by 9.53 percent. On the other hand, Bhujung Hydropower declined by 9.43 percent, Community Microfinance by 7.83 percent, CYC Microfinance by 7.23 percent, and Corporate Development Bank by 5.56 percent.
Among the most actively traded companies were Laxmi Sunrise Bank, Reliance Spinning Mills, Nabil Bank, Global IME Bank, Aankhukhola Hydropower Company, and Sahas Urja.
