All sectoral indices closed in the red, with the trading sector leading losses as investors remained on the sidelines.
KATHMANDU, JULY 9
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) extended its losing streak for a second straight session on Thursday, shedding 19.67 points, or 0.75 percent, to close at 2,601.92 as broad-based selling pressure weighed on the market.
The benchmark index had already fallen 30.09 points on Wednesday after gaining 24.57 points on Tuesday. Thursday's decline was accompanied by a 0.54 percent drop in the Sensitive Index and a 0.67 percent fall in the Float Index, indicating weakness across large-cap and actively traded stocks.
All sectoral indices ended lower, with the trading sector posting the steepest decline of 2.36 percent. The manufacturing and processing sector fell 1.19 percent, followed by mutual funds at 1.16 percent and development banks at 1.11 percent. The remaining sectors also closed in negative territory, each recording losses of less than one percent.
Market activity also slowed, with daily turnover declining to Rs 4.61 billion from Rs 4.83 billion recorded on Wednesday. A total of 8.75 million shares of 361 listed companies changed hands through 57,864 transactions during the session.
Despite the overall market weakness, 42 companies posted gains, while 229 declined and six remained unchanged, reflecting continued bearish sentiment among investors.
By the close of trading, the market's total capitalisation stood at Rs 4.47 trillion, while float market capitalisation was recorded at Rs 1.51 trillion.