Kathmandu: Nepal’s stock market extended its upward momentum on Friday, with the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index gaining 7.90 points to close at 2,734.63, reflecting renewed investor confidence despite mixed sectoral performance.
According to the Nepal Stock Exchange, market activity also witnessed a significant boost as the day’s total trading turnover crossed the Rs. 6 billion mark. A total of 13.7 million shares were traded through thousands of transactions, generating a turnover of approximately Rs. 6.26 billion, indicating strong participation from both retail and institutional investors.
Market breadth remained positive throughout the trading session. Share prices of 152 listed companies advanced, while 109 companies recorded declines. Meanwhile, the share prices of 15 companies remained unchanged by the end of the trading day, highlighting a generally optimistic trading environment.
Among the day’s top gainers, Everest Color Limited (ECL) led the market with an impressive 14.99 percent rise in its share price. It was closely followed by Atmanirbhar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha, whose shares surged by 14.46 percent, reflecting strong investor demand for selected stocks.
On the losing side, the market witnessed declines of up to 8.92 percent in some stocks, demonstrating that profit booking and sector-specific corrections continued despite the overall positive market sentiment.
In terms of trading volume, Ridi Power Company Limited emerged as the most actively traded stock of the day. Shares worth more than Rs. 300 million were exchanged, making it the market’s top turnover leader. The company continued to attract strong investor interest amid heightened activity in the hydropower sector.
Sector-wise performance remained mixed. The Finance, Hydropower, Manufacturing and Processing, Mutual Fund, Others, and Trading sub-indices ended the session in negative territory. However, gains recorded by the remaining sectoral indices were sufficient to push the benchmark index higher, resulting in an overall positive close for the market.
Market analysts noted that the combination of a rising benchmark index and turnover exceeding Rs. 6 billion signals sustained investor confidence and improving market liquidity. The increase in trading activity suggests that investors remain optimistic about the market outlook, although selective profit-taking continues in certain sectors.
The positive market close also reflects growing interest in fundamentally strong companies and sectors that investors believe offer long-term growth potential. While volatility persists in individual stocks, the broader market continues to show resilience, supported by healthy trading volumes and balanced buying pressure.
With the benchmark index maintaining its upward trajectory and daily turnover remaining robust, investors will now be closely watching upcoming corporate disclosures, quarterly financial results, and macroeconomic developments that could influence market direction in the coming trading sessions.