Nepse index
Kathmandu, September 2 — The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) ended Wednesday’s session on a positive note, with the benchmark index closing at 2,538.11 points, up 15.44 points, or 0.61 percent, from the previous trading day. Total turnover for the session stood at Rs 2.94 arba (Rs 2,942,781,826.16), with 7,268,202 shares changing hands. Of the listed scrips, 193 advanced, 75 declined, and 10 remained unchanged, reflecting broad-based buying interest.
The modest gain comes as investors continue to weigh the market’s recovery prospects following a turbulent few weeks. Nepal’s equity market has been navigating headwinds linked to the catastrophic flash floods that struck the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river basins in late August, which prompted the government to declare a state of emergency across the affected districts. The disaster disrupted hydropower operations in several areas, including damage to the Chilime Hydropower plant, and dented sentiment in a market where hydropower counters typically carry significant weight.
Despite this backdrop, today’s trading reflected a steadier mood on the floor, with buying interest helping the index inch upward through the session. Market watchers note that NEPSE has alternated between gains and losses in recent sessions as investors digest fourth-quarter earnings disclosures from commercial banks, corporate announcements, and relief and reconstruction developments following the floods.
Analysts continue to point to structural themes shaping investor behavior this year — including efforts to strengthen regulatory compliance, address concerns around insider trading, and improve transparency in the securities market. Retail participation remains a key driver of daily turnover, even as institutional and foreign interest stays comparatively limited.
