Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) last week jumped 13.21 points to close at fresh all-time high of 1,357.14 points. 

The market that opened at 1,343.93 points on Sunday fell 1.86 points on Monday before posting gains for rest of the week. The biggest gain came on Thursday when the market rose 11.61 points.

Stockbrokers attributed the rise to the Securities Board Nepal’s (Sebon) policy reform moves, introduction of full-fledged paperless transaction system, and excess liquidity with banks.

Bijay Ranabhat, managing director of Bhrikuti Stock Broking, said the implementation of the demat system has helped boost investor confident. He said the Nepse’s move to offer two trading windows to stockbrokers also contributed to the rise. “A separate trading window has been given for small investments of up to Rs50,000,” Ranabhat said. 

Gunanidhi Bhusal, managing director of Aryatara Investment & Securities, added: “Falling bank interest rates as a result of excess liquidity in the banking system, increasing investment by institutional investors and lack of alternative investment areas also fuelled the growth,” Bhusal said.

Of nine trading groups, four posted gains. Commercial banks (up 30.57 points) led the gainers side including others, hotels and manufacturing. The losers were insurance companies, hydropower, development banks and finance companies. The trading group was stable at 201.38 points.

With significant rise in the commercial bank index, the sensitive index that measures the performance of ‘A’ class companies rose 3.44 points to close at 292.48 points.

The transaction volume, however, fell 14.43 percent to Rs3.44 billion. The number of shares traded also dropped to 6,614,220 units from 6,714,230.

National Hydropower topped in terms of both transaction volume (Rs286.06 million) and number of shares traded (1,337,000 units). It was followed by Nepal Life Insurance, Nepal 

Bank, Citizens Bank International and NMB Bank.