The Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) index surged by 14.21 points (0.48 percent) on Thursday, the last trading day of the week, concluding the session at 2950.16 points. However, turnover declined to Rs 13.16 billion from Rs 15.09 billion in the previous session, when the market closed at 2935.94.

The index opened at 2,933.93, and reached an intraday high of 2,969.50 and a low of 2,929.44. A total of 30,438,305 shares of 342 companies were traded through 142,733 transactions.

During the session, the pre-open dipped 2.01 points. The market saw fluctuations amid a tussle between buyers and sellers until around 12.18 pm. However, buying pressure strengthened thereafter.

Of the 13 sub-indices, nine posted gains, three declined, and one remained unchanged. The hydropower sub-index led gains, rising 1.56 percent, while trading fell the most, down 2.84 percent.

Other gainers included Manufacturing and processing (1.50 percent), hotel and tourism (0.81 percent), others (0.65 percent), investment (0.51 percent), non-life insurance (0.43 percent), banking (0.37 percent), microfinance (0.20 percent), and finance (0.17 percent).

Among the decliners, development bank decreased by 0.06 percent, and life-insurance 0.04 percent. Mutual fund remained unchanged.

NRN Infrastructure and Development Limited (NRN) led turnover, with transactions worth over Rs 942 million, closing at Rs 1970.

Five stocks—Reliance Spinning Mills Limited (RSML), Super Khudi Hydropower Limited (SKHL), Hotel Forest Inn Limited (HFIN), Solu Hydropower Limited (SOHL), and Bhujung Hydropower Limited (BJHL)—hit the upper circuit. They closed at Rs 2013.10, Rs 363, Rs 262.90, Rs 707.10 and Rs 434.80, respectively.

Panchkanya Mai Hydropower Ltd (PMHPL) recorded the biggest loss, dropping 7.48 percent to close at Rs 396.