KATHMANDU: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index recorded a slight improvement today. The benchmark index rose by 6.74 points to settle at 2,601.61.

According to NEPSE, a total of 7,757,625 shares of 329 companies were traded through 56,122 transactions, resulting in a total turnover of NPR 3.44 billion.

In today’s trading, the banking sub-index increased by 0.72 percent, development banks by 0.33 percent, finance by 0.90 percent, hydropower by 0.06 percent, life insurance by 0.30 percent, manufacturing and processing by 0.57 percent, non-life insurance by 0.07 percent, and trading by 0.27 percent. All other sectoral indices declined. The hotel and tourism index fell by 0.11 percent, investment by 0.08 percent, mutual funds by 0.11 percent, and others by 0.17 percent.

Shares of Swastik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited and SY Panel Nepal Limited hit the positive circuit today. Meanwhile, Himstar Urja Company Limited recorded the highest loss, with its share price dropping by 6.95 percent.