KATHMANDU: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index witnessed a modest increase today, gaining 4.78 points to close at 2,600.76. Despite the small rise in the benchmark index, the market saw significant trading activity throughout the day.

According to NEPSE, a total of 17,587,036 shares from 325 companies were traded in 70,831 transactions. The total turnover for the day reached approximately Rs. 6.47 billion. This indicates continued investor interest across various sectors, although market movements remained relatively stable.

Sector-wise performance showed mixed results. The trade sector emerged as the top performer with a 2.20 percent gain. Other sectors such as hotel and tourism (0.90%), finance (0.72%), hydropower (0.42%), investment (0.37%), banking (0.15%), and microfinance (0.01%) also posted gains. On the other hand, some sectors recorded declines. The manufacturing and processing sector fell by 0.61 percent, life insurance by 0.39 percent, mutual funds by 0.34 percent, non-life insurance by 0.23 percent, development banks by 0.09 percent, and others by 0.19 percent.

Among individual stocks, Joshi Hydropower Development Company Limited saw the highest price gain of the day, rising by 9.98 percent. In contrast, Guras Microfinance Financial Institution Limited experienced the steepest decline, hitting the negative circuit limit.

In terms of trading volume and value, Radhi Bidyut Company Limited topped the chart with a transaction worth Rs. 521.8 million. Meanwhile, Ngadi Group Power Limited recorded the highest number of shares traded, totaling 831,481.