KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 24

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index closed at 2,627.14 points on Thursday, marking a decline of 18.25 points or 0.68%.

Along with the benchamark index the Sensitive Index that evaluates the class 'A' stocks also dropped by 0.62%. Similarly, the Float Index that gauges the actively traded shares also fell by 0.80%.

The total market turnover for the day stood at Rs 5.42 billion, with 12,283,623 shares traded across 61,785 transactions involving 317 companies. The total market capitalization at the close of the day was Rs 4.18 trillion.

The market saw broad-based declines, with most sectors finishing in the red. The Manufacturing and Processing Index recorded the steepest fall, dropping by 1.26%. The Banking Sector followed, with a 1.02% decline, while the Hotels and Tourism Index fell by 0.87%. Other sectors, including Development Banks (-0.79%), Finance (-0.88%), and Non-Life Insurance (-0.59%), also posted losses.

On a positive note, the Hydropower Index bucked the trend, gaining 0.36%, making it the only sector to end the day in positive territory. However, the Trading Index was hit hardest, falling by 1.93%.

Out of the 317 scrips traded, 170 stocks declined, 67 advanced, and 7 remained unchanged, indicating a largely negative market sentiment.