NEPSE Drops by 20 Points to Close at 2,735; Finance Sector Triumphs Amid Broad Market Sell-Off

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) faced a double-digit contraction on Monday, compounding the previous session's losses with a drop of 20.27 points, or 0.73%, to settle at 2,735.14. Opening at 2,749.32, the benchmark index experienced volatile intraday movements, hitting a high of 2,754.58 and slipping to a low of 2,726.38 before closing out the day. Despite the overarching bearish sentiment, daily market liquidity remained active, clocking a total turnover of Rs. 4.08 Arba through 56,845 transactions. Central Finance Co. Ltd. (CFCL) heavily anchored the day's liquidity, leading the turnover chart with transactions worth Rs. 20.46 crores to close at Rs. 645.00. By the closing bell, the total market capitalization rested at Rs. 46.66 Kharba. In terms of individual stock performance, Kalinchowk Hydropower Limited (KHPL) shone brightest by hitting the upper band of gains at 14.99%, finishing at Rs. 871.20. Conversely, Upakar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (ULBSL) endured the steepest correction of the day, diving 7.14% to end at Rs. 2,990.00. Sectoral performance presented a highly divided landscape; the Finance Index decoupled from the broader market downward pressure to register the highest gains of 0.26%. On the other end of the spectrum, the Trading Index bore the brunt of the day's sell-off, marking the sharpest sectoral decline at 1.77%.