Himal Press 
Representative image created by AI
KATHMANDU: The Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) index snapped a two-day losing run on Friday, the last trading day of the week, closing 27.94 points higher at 2,559.49.
The Sensitive Index, which measures the performance of blue-chip companies, also closed 1.1% higher.
The benchmark index rose steadily in the final hour of trading after remaining largely range-bound during the middle of the session. Market breadth was positive, as 238 scrips advanced on Friday. Only 30 declined, while nine remained unchanged.
Trading activity also remained strong, as total turnover improved to Rs 4.36 billion, with 12.09 million units traded through 49,006 transactions.
Among individual stocks, Upakar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Ltd logged the biggest gain of 10.53%. Next were Aviyan Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha and Sindhu Bikash Bank, with gains of 10.09% and 9.54%, respectively. On the other hand, Multipurpose Finance Company Ltd posted the biggest loss of 5.71%. Emerging Nepal Ltd and Om Mega Pharmaceuticals followed with losses of 4.21% and 4%, respectively.
Liberty Energy Company topped the turnover chart with total transactions worth Rs 366.65 million. NRN Infrastructure & Development and Reliance Spinning Mills Ltd were next, with turnovers of Rs 185.1 million and Rs 147.95 million, respectively.
The sub-indices of all 13 trading groups ended the session in the green. The biggest gain came from the Hydropower Index, which closed 1.83% higher. The Non-life Insurance and Investment sub-indices were next, with gains of 1.72% and 1.58%, respectively.
