Nepse ushers in 2018 on a buoyant note

Kathmandu, January 1

Share investors ushered in the new year on a buoyant note, resulting in the secondary market changing course today after nearly two weeks.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) index ascended by 44.22 points or 3.18 per cent to close at 1,434.80 points today.Nepse index had been continuously falling from December 14, when the market had closed at 1,520.15 points.

The benchmark index, which had opened at 1,390.59 points today, had reached 1,416.60 points within one hour of trading. While the market retreated to 1,401.11 points over the next half an hour, the market rose again to close at 1,434.80 points for the day. The last time Nepse had closed at the current level was on December 26, when the market had settled at 1,447.04 points.

In tandem with Nepse index, sensitive index increased by 9.2 points or 3.15 per cent to 301.32 points and the float index also went up by 3.32 points or 3.32 per cent to 103.22 points during the four-hour trading period.

Chairman of Nepal Investors Forum, Ambika Prasad Paudel said that the decision of commercial banks not to let the interest rate exceed 12 per cent was reflected in the capital market today. “The announcement yesterday evening that Nepal Bankers’ Association members had decided to cap interest rates at 12 per cent was clearly reflected in the share market today,” Paudel explained.

The sub-index of commercial banks increased by 42.52 points or 3.58 per cent to 1,231.71 points, microfinance sector rose by 69.47 points or 4.13 per cent to 1,751.20 points, insurance group gained 270.8 points or 3.75 per cent to 7,483.03 points, development banks group advanced by 45 points or 2.85 per cent to 1,624.62 points and the finance group went up by 13.26 points or 1.83 per cent to 738.53 points.

Similarly, the sub-index of hotels ascended by 5.33 per cent or 111.57 points to 2,203.30 points, hydropower sector rose by 59.8 points or 3.14 per cent to 1,966.24 points, trading inched up by 2.87 points or 1.49 per cent to 194.85 points and the manufacturing and production sector edged up by 25.32 points or 1.01 per cent to 2,521.08 points. Meanwhile, the others sector shed 0.11 per cent or 0.87 points to rest at 772.49 points by the time of closing today.

A total of 1,141,463 unit shares of 163 listed firms worth Rs 498.47million changed hands through 5,229 transactions today.

Standard Chartered Bank topped the list in terms of turnover with Rs 28.86 million, while its last trading price for the day was Rs 1,033 per unit.

Similarly, Prabhu Bank was forerunner in terms of most number of shares traded with its 82,802 unit shares changing hands and its last trading price was Rs 325 per unit.

Top gainers

Company

Last trading price

Change

Rastriya Beema Company (Promoter)

Rs 13,350

8.54%

Rastriya Beema Company

Rs 14,175

8.50%

World Merchant Banking and Finance

Rs 130

8.33%

Mithila Laghubitta Bikas Bank

Rs 1,136

7.98%

Himalayan Bank

Rs 636

7.80%

Top losers

Company

Last trading price

Change

Purnima Bikas Bank

Rs 220

-3.08%

NIBL Pragati Fund

Rs 10.19

-2.02%

Globa IME Samunnat Scheme-1

Rs 9.57

-1.95%

Kisan Microfinance Bittiya Sanstha

Rs  1,848

-1.75%

Sahayogi Bikas Bank

Rs 240

-1.22%