The Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) index fell sharply on Sunday, dropping 19.85 points to close at 2,694.20 points, a 0.73 per cent decline.

Share prices of 50 companies rose, while 201 companies declined and nine remained unchanged. The broader index fell as the number of companies with declining share prices outweighed those with gains.

Of the 13 sub-indices, only the trading sector recorded gains, while hotel and tourism, production and processing, and life insurance among others posted losses. The hotel and tourism sub-index fell 132.30 points, while production and processing dropped 71.5 points.

During the session, a total of 110,728 transactions were executed, involving 22.06 million shares worth Rs9.1094 billion. Turnover declined compared to the previous Thursday, when trading amounted to Rs14.5 billion.

Top performers included Mithila Laghubitta, up 9.7 per cent, Crest Micro Life, up 8.19 per cent, NIBL Growth Fund, up 6.51 per cent, Shivshree Hydropower, up 6.07 per cent, and Akhu Khola Hydropower, up 4.62 per cent.

Among the laggards were Corporate Development Bank, Rawa Energy Development, Kalika Power Company, Him Star Energy, and Trade Tower, which saw their share prices decline.