The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) fell by 37.63 points (1.39%) last week amid investor caution ahead of the March 5 general election. The benchmark index opened at 2,708.70 and closed at 2,671.07, fluctuating between 2,655.30 and 2,728.43 during the week. Hydropower was the only gaining sector, edging up 0.32%, while hotels and tourism (-6.15%) and finance (-3.12%) posted the steepest declines. Ridi Power recorded the highest turnover at Rs 2.71 billion. Khani Khola Hydropower surged 27.14%, whereas Kalinchowk Darshan dropped 16.43%. Despite a 12.87% rise in total turnover to Rs 50.84 billion, market capitalization declined by Rs 63 billion to Rs 4.484 trillion.
