The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index posted a strong start to the new Nepali year, rising by 27.14 points on Monday to close at 2,689.

This marks a 1.02 percent increase compared to the previous session. During intraday trading, the index reached a high of 2,704 points at 1:54 pm — the day's peak.

In addition to the index rally, the market saw a notable surge in trading volume. Daily turnover reached Rs8.54 billion, up from Rs6.28 billion recorded in the previous session. A total of 212 companies recorded gains, while 34 posted losses.

Development banks and the investment sector led the day’s upward momentum, gaining 2.46 percent and 2.71 percent respectively. Other sectors also saw broad gains, including finance (1.59 percent), hotels and tourism (1.99 percent), hydropower (1.47 percent), life insurance (0.81 percent), manufacturing (1.22 percent), microfinance (0.60 percent), non-life insurance (1.07 percent), banking (0.48 percent), and others (0.61 percent).

The trading sector was the only one to decline, slipping by 0.64 percent.

Five companies hit the upper circuit with a 10 percent gain: Corporate Development Bank, Green Development Bank, Saptakoshi Development Bank, Nepal Micro Insurance, and Crest Micro Life Insurance.

On the losing side, Balefi Hydropower declined the most with a 9.69 percent drop, followed by Win Nepal Microfinance (−6.17 percent) and Aatmanirbhar Microfinance (−3.71 percent).

Balefi Hydropower topped the turnover chart, recording transactions worth Rs2 billion. Other high-turnover companies included NRN Infrastructure, Radhi Hydropower, CEDB Hydropower Holdings, and Himalayan Reinsurance.