The Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) index closed at 2,782.18 on Thursday, gaining 5.82 points, or 0.20 percent, in a session marked by mixed sectoral performance.

Total turnover reached Rs8.81 billion, with 21.31 million shares traded across the market. Despite the marginal rise in the benchmark index, market breadth remained negative as 158 stocks declined, 98 advanced, and 12 remained unchanged.

Sector-wise, the manufacturing and processing sub-index led the gains, rising 1.77 percent, followed by the trading, which climbed 2.53 percent. Development banks, hotels and tourism, hydropower, investment, and mutual funds also closed in positive territory, though with modest gains.

In contrast, the finance sector weighed on the market. The finance sub-index dropped 0.87 percent, while the life insurance and non-life insurance indices fell 0.19 percent and 0.33 percent, respectively. The banking sub-index slipped 0.11 percent, and the microfinance index declined 0.29 percent.

Among individual stocks, several companies hit the upper circuit limit. Reliance Spinning Mills Limited, Ridge Line Energy Limited, Suryakunda Hydro Electric Limited, Bhujung Hydropower Limited, and Super Khudi Hydropower Limited each gained around 10 percent, indicating strong buying pressure in selected scrips.

On the losing side, Bhugol Energy Development Company Limited led the declines, followed by NMB Hybrid Fund L- II, Crest Micro Life Insurance Limited, Aviyan Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited, and Global IME Balanced Fund-1. These stocks recorded losses ranging from around 2.4 percent to just over 3 percent.

The session reflected selective buying interest, with gains concentrated in a few sectors and stocks, while broader financial sector weakness limited overall market momentum.