KATHMANDU: On the first trading day of this week, the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index witnessed a double-digit decline.

Today, the NEPSE index decreased by 19.85 points to settle at the 2,694.20 level. According to NEPSE, 22,060,454 shares of 329 companies were traded 110,728 times, resulting in a total turnover of Rs 9.109 billion.

Today, the trading group increased by 0.55 percent, while the sub-indices of all other groups declined. Banking fell by 0.42 percent, Development Bank by 0.75 percent, Finance by 0.44 percent, Hotels and Tourism by 1.75 percent, Hydropower by 1.36 percent, and the Investment group by 0.96 percent.

Similarly, life insurance decreased by 0.52 percent, manufacturing and processing by 0.76 percent, microfinance by 0.57 percent, mutual funds by 0.50 percent, non-life insurance by 0.63 percent, and the others group by 0.92 percent.

The share price of Mithila Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha saw the highest increase today at 9.70 percent, while a negative circuit was triggered for the share price of Corporate Development Bank Limited.

Based on the transaction amount and the number of shares traded, Ankhu Khola Hydropower recorded the highest activity today, with 1,746,924 shares exchanged for a value of Rs 555.2 million, as reported by NEPSE.