The Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) fell by 5.54 points on Monday, reversing the previous session’s gains, even as total trading turnover increased.

The benchmark index closed at 2,635 points, down 0.20 per cent from Thursday’s close of 2,640.54 points. The market had remained closed on Sunday due to a public holiday, and the index failed to sustain last week’s modest rise when trading resumed on Monday.

Market data show that out of all traded companies, share prices of 75 increased, 178 declined, and seven remained unchanged. With decliners significantly outnumbering gainers, the overall index closed lower by more than five points.

A total of 12,009,744 shares were traded through 78,808 transactions, generating a turnover of Rs6.47 billion. This represents an increase compared to Thursday’s turnover of Rs4.90 billion, indicating higher trading activity despite the fall in the index.

Of the 13 sub-indices, development banks, hotels and tourism, manufacturing and processing, and mutual funds posted marginal gains. The remaining nine subgroups ended in negative territory, dragging the benchmark index down.