Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) index closed 5.21 points lower at 2,674.76 on Monday.
Although the benchmark index briefly crossed the psychological 2,700-point threshold early in the session, it lost steam as trading progressed and ultimately closed 0.19% lower.
Market activity saw a modest increase as 17.16 million units of securities worth Rs 7.58 billion were traded on the bourse through 68,401 transactions on Monday. Share prices of 155 companies fell during the session, while 92 posted gains. Hydropower stocks were in high demand as hydropower companies were at the top of the turnover chart. Radhi Bidyut Company Ltd logged the highest turnover of the session with Rs 643.15 million worth of shares traded. Next were Ngadi Group Power Ltd and Universal Power Company Ltd with turnovers of Rs 568.69 million and Rs 453.91 million, respectively.
Among trading groups, only the Banking and Manufacturing & Processing sub-indices posted slight gains. All other sectors ended lower, with the Microfinance sub-index posting the highest drop of 1.5%.
