KATHMANDU, MAY 4 The Nepal Stock Exchange index (NEPSE) declined by 34.63 points, or 1.26 per cent, on Monday, the first trading day of the week, to close at 2,794.08. The sensitive index, which tracks Class 'A' stocks, fell by 0.72 per cent, while the float index, measuring actively traded shares, dropped by 1.19 per cent. Sector-wise, the market remained largely in the red, with only the microfinance sector posting a marginal gain of 0.14 point. The manufacturing and processing sector led the losses with a 2.54 per cent decline, followed by hydropower at 2.23 per cent and development banks at 2.14 per cent. The market recorded a daily turnover of Rs 4.26 billion from the trading of 10,074,524 shares across 68,635 transactions involving 341 scrips. By the end of the trading day, total market capitalisation stood at Rs 4.61 trillion, while float market capitalisation reached Rs 1.53 trillion. In individual stock performance, 27 companies advanced, 240 declined and two remained unchanged. Forward Microfinance Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited was the sole company to hit the upper circuit limit with a 15 per cent gain.