KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 17

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) witnessed a gain of 27.75 points or 1.39%, settling at 2,022.35 points on the first trading day of the week.

Simultaneously, the sensitive index, evaluating the performance of 'A' class stocks, also experienced a rise to 381.07 points, indicating a 4.70-point or 1.24% gain. Similarly, the float index, reflecting the performance of actively traded shares, also made positive strides, reaching 139.24 points, indicating a 1.70-point or 1.24% increase.

As the benchmark index gained, the daily turnover raced past Rs 5 billion to settle at Rs 5.157 billion. This came from the exchange of 17,166,465 units of shares from 295 companies, occurring through 101,128 transactions.

In today's trading, the majority of the companies gained, with 185 advancing, 53 declining, and four remaining unchanged.

The banking sub-index suffered the most with a 0.67% loss, followed by the only other two losers, Mutual Fund and Trading index, with 0.42% and 0.23% decreases, respectively. Meanwhile, the hydropower index was the top gainer with a massive 5.55% gain, followed by the Investment index with 3.12% and the Development Bank index with a 2.65% gain.

Today, Himal Dolakha Hydropower Company Limited (HDHPC) was the top company in terms of turnover and volume, with its 1,780,635 units of shares traded for Rs 251,290,746.90. Meanwhile, Sonapur Minerals and Oil Limited (SONA) claimed the top position in terms of transactions, with its scrips traded 6,694 times.

Meanwhile, Bottlers Nepal (Balaju) Ltd (BNL), Ridhi Power Company Limited (RIDI), Shiva Shree Hydropower Company Limited (SSHL), Balephi Hydropower Limited (BHL), and Dordi Khola Jalbidyut Company Limited (DORDI) were the top five gainers of the day.