KATHMANDU: Nepali investors gained this week-- from December 18 to 24 -- as Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) index upped by 6.98 points. The majority of the sectors listed with Nepse gained between 1.18 points and 10.94.

Hydropower was the largest gainer with 10.94 points followed by commercial banks (9.70 points) development banks (8.86 points), finance companies (2.83 points) and insurance companies (1.80 points).

There was a change in the index of manufacturing, hotel and trade sectors. The Nepse float index also increased by 1.74 per cent this week.

Nepse floor traded 4,84,200 units of shares equal to Rs 265.93 million of 85 companies through 6,264 transactions within five trading days this week. The trading amount was 28.04 per cent less than the previous week's Rs 369.55 million. Class 'A' companies dominated in the transaction with Rs 97.2 million (36.75 per cent) in total trade.

Prime Commercial Bank occupied top position in amount (Rs 100.5 million), share number (1,61,000 units) and transactions (2,864). Other companies up in traded amount were Standard Chartered (Rs 26.37 million), Vibhor Development Bank (Rs 14.55 million), Siddharth Bank (Rs 13.24 million) and Nabil Bank (Rs 11.50 million).