KATHMANDU: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index increased by 20.61 points on Thursday and reached an all-time high of 2735.40 points.

The stock market has set a new record on the first trading day of the Nepali New Year 2078. Earlier, on the last trading day of last year, Nepse had closed at a historic high of 2714.79 points.

A total of 19.20 million shares were bought and sold on Thursday resulting in a turnover of 8.63 billion.

The banking sector has taken the lead on Thursday as all sub-indices except trade and hydropower are green.

The development bank sub-index increased the most by 3.12 percent, the finance company sub-index by 2.22 percent, the investment sub-index by 1.57 percent, and the banking sub-index by 1.22 percent.

The share market has welcomed the new year in a positive way as the banking sector, which has a large share in the market, turned green.

Meanwhile, the trade sub-index declined by 2.53 percent and the hydropower sub-index by 0.34 percent.

Banking sector companies have also taken the lead in the transaction amounts.

NIC Asia Microfinance has made the highest turnover of 498.96 million while Nepal Infrastructure Bank has the highest turnover of 498.734 million today.

Similarly, NIC Asia Bank made a turnover of 326.281 million.

The share price of eight companies has started a positive circuit on Thursday.

West Finance, NIC Asia Microfinance, Mahila Microfinance, Jyoti Life Insurance, Green Development Bank, Chyangdi Hydropower, Karnali Development Bank, and Saptakoshi Development Bank are among the positive circuits in the share price.

Meanwhile, shares of Multipurpose Finance and National Microfinance decreased more than 3.5 percent. The share price of 98 companies traded on Nepse today has  increased while 72 companies have declined and 11 companies have remained stable.