KATHMANDU: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) experienced a turbulent trading week, ultimately closing at nearly the same level as the previous week.
Despite four consecutive days of decline, a strong surge on Sunday helped NEPSE record a marginal increase of 3.39 points over the five-day trading period from March 2 to 6.
The NEPSE index, which stood at 2815.04 points last Thursday, saw a slight rise to 2818.43 points by the end of this week. The increase of 75.24 points on Sunday played a crucial role in maintaining this minor gain, offsetting the losses suffered in the remaining four trading sessions.
Although the overall index showed only a modest rise, trading activity surged. Throughout the week, NEPSE recorded transactions worth Rs 62.55 billion, averaging Rs 12.51 billion per day. A total of 129.18 million shares were traded, with a daily average of 25.83 million shares.
Mixed signs
The stock market started the week with strong momentum on Sunday, witnessing a significant increase of 75.24 points, bringing the index to 2890.28 points. This marked a 2.67% increase from the previous close. The day’s trading session saw fluctuations between 2826.86 points and the day’s high of 2890.28 points.
Sunday’s rise also brought a surge in trading activity, with 29.17 million shares worth Rs 14.25 billion exchanging hands. A total of 302 companies were actively traded, and 139,596 transactions took place throughout the day.
However, this upward momentum failed to sustain as the market entered a downward trajectory starting Monday. The index fell by 13.62 points, closing at 2876.66 points. Monday’s session saw significant volatility, with the index fluctuating over 60 points, reaching an intraday high of 2929.21 points and a low of 2867.46 points.
Despite the market decline, trading volumes increased slightly compared to Sunday. A total of 31.12 million shares worth Rs 14.28 billion were traded. This involved transactions in 300 companies, with 139,555 trades executed.
On Tuesday, the bearish trend deepened as the NEPSE index dropped by 30.36 points, settling at 2846.30 points. This represented a 1.05 % decline, and the market fluctuated within a range of 52 points throughout the day. The index peaked at 2894.62 points before dropping to a low of 2842.78 points.
Fear the bear
The persistent decline in the market also impacted trading volume. The total turnover for Tuesday was limited to Rs 12.94 billion, marking a decrease from the previous sessions. The day saw 26.38 million shares of 318 companies being traded in 122,336 transactions.
The downward spiral continued on Wednesday, making it the third consecutive day of decline. The NEPSE index fell by 25.16 points to close at 2821.13 points, marking a 0.88 % drop. Market fluctuations were slightly lower than the previous day, with an intraday range of 42 points. The highest point recorded during Wednesday’s session was 2850.16 points, while the lowest was 2808.75 points.
As the market continued its decline, trading activity also saw a dip. The total turnover for Wednesday was recorded at Rs 10.97 billion, lower than the previous days. A total of 23.34 million shares were traded across 308 companies, with 1.10 million transactions taking place.
The final trading session of the week on Thursday saw a minor decline of 2.70 points, bringing the NEPSE index to 2818.43 points. While the drop was relatively small, it marked the fourth consecutive day of losses for the market. The index fluctuated within a 23-point range, reaching a high of 2834 points and a low of
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