Kathmandu, April 22 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) closed lower for the third consecutive day, with today’s session marking a - 9.96point drop, down -0.36% from the previous day.

Market Overview: Turnover Remains Strong Despite Index Slide

The NEPSE index dropped by 9.96 points to close at 2,688.32, continuing its recent downtrend after shedding 7.75 points on Sunday and 16.68 points the session before. The index opened at 2,695.15, reached a high of 2,707.86, and touched a low of 2,682.80 signaling intraday volatility.

Despite the decline, overall market participation remained high. The day’s total turnover stood at Rs. 8.32 Arba, with 22,555,713 shares traded through 71,694 transactions across 319 listed companies.

• Total Market Capitalization: Rs. 44.70 Kharba

• Float Market Capitalization: Rs. 14.86 Kharba

Sector-Wise Performance: Mixed Sentiment Across Industries

Amid the broader decline, three sectors posted gains:

• Others Index rose by 2.21 points

• Manufacturing & Processing climbed 1.18 points

These selective gains indicate pockets of investor confidence, even as overall market sentiment remains fragile.

Meanwhile, sectors under the most pressure included:

• Investment Index: down 1.87%

• Trading Index: down 1.65%

These declines point toward cautious repositioning by investors amid short-term volatility and uncertainty.

Top Gainers: Select Stocks Outperform the Index

Several stocks bucked the broader trend:

• Nepal Microinsurance Company (NMIC) hit the upper circuit, reflecting strong demand momentum

• Crest  gained 9.98%

• Makar Jitumaya Suri Hydropower MAKAR  advanced by 7.47%

• Greenlife Hydropower Limited (GLH) and Nepal Reinsurance Company (NRIC) also featured among the top gainers

These counters attracted both retail and institutional interest despite the overall bearish undertone.

Top Losers: Price Corrections Follow Speculative Highs

Corporate Development Bank (CORBL) was the session’s worst performer, hitting the lower circuit with a sharp decline of 274.6 points. This correction followed a six-day rally fueled by limited supply and speculative momentum.

According to its Q2 financials:

• Annualized EPS: Rs. 4.08

• Non-Performing Loan (NPL) Ratio: 7.53%

Despite some improvements in fundamentals, the stock faced strong profit-taking pressure.

Other notable losers included:

• NIC Asia Balanced Fund

• NGPL

• HIDCL

Turnover Leaders: High Volume Activity Persists

Top turnover contributors in today’s session were:

• Ngadi group power limited  (NGPL)

• Himalayan Power Partner Ltd. (HPPL)

• Himalayan Reinsurance Ltd. (HRL)

• Nepal Reinsurance Company (NRIC)

• Radhi Hydropower

These stocks saw continued interest from active traders and investors, underscoring selective optimism within a consolidation phase.

Conclusion: Patience and Fundamentals Remain Key

While the broader NEPSE index remains under selling pressure, individual stocks and sectors continue to show resilience. Investors are advised to focus on company fundamentals, earnings visibility, and credible financial disclosures. In a market driven by both sentiment and speculation, maintaining a diversified portfolio and avoiding herd behavior will be crucial during this consolidation phase.