Nepal’s stock market started the week on a negative note as the NEPSE index declined by 12.26 points on Monday, closing at 2,711.76 points.

A total of 107.39 million shares of 350 listed companies were traded during the day, generating a turnover of more than Rs. 4.41 billion. The trading value was around 2 percent higher compared to the previous trading session.

Among the sectoral indices, only the Manufacturing and Processing sector managed to stay positive. All other sectors closed lower, with the “Others” sector recording the steepest decline of 1.82 percent.

On the gainers' list, investors in Sopan Pharmaceuticals, Apollo Hydropower Limited, and Sayapatri Hydropower Limited posted the highest returns. Meanwhile, shareholders of Green Development Bank, Rawa Energy Development Company, and Central Finance Company suffered the biggest losses.

Market observers believe the decline was driven by profit-booking activities and cautious investor sentiment, resulting in a broad-based correction across the market despite healthy trading volume.