Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) index extended its losing streak to a fourth consecutive trading session on Thursday, falling 8.50 points to close at 2,651.52 points.
This is the benchmark index’s lowest close since February 25, when it had settled at 2,648.90 points, reflecting continued weakness in investor sentiment.
The market breadth was firmly negative, with 172 stocks seeing their unit prices fall, 83 advance and 19 remaining unchanged. Market activity slowed significantly with daily turnover dropping to Rs 2.83 billion—the lowest since May 18 when total transactions totaled Rs 2.42 billion. A total of 6.48 million units traded hands through 46,751 transactions on Thursday.
The index dipped during early trading and remained in the negative territory for the next two hours. Although it recovered and hit an intraday high of 2,662.93 points, it pared most of the gains and closed 0.31% in the red.
Among individual stocks, Taksar Pikhuwakhola Hydropower Ltd and Yambaling Hydropower Ltd hit the 15% positive circuit during the session. On the other hand, Bhujung Hydropower Ltd logged the largest loss of 11.03%. Sopan Pharmaceuticals Ltd topped the turnover chart with shares worth Rs 127.72 million traded. Reliance Spinning Mills Ltd and Satpakoshi Development Bank Ltd followed with total transactions of Rs 120.82 million and Rs 105.92 million, respectively.
Twelve out of 13 trading groups ended the session in the red. The Manufacturing & Processing sub-index bucked the trend, with a modest gain of 0.14%. The Trading sub-index recorded the biggest loss of 1.96%.
