KATHMANDU: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) remained almost flat on Tuesday, the second trading day of the week, closing marginally higher after declining in the previous session.

The NEPSE index gained 0.94 points to close at 2,630.76 points. The Sensitive Index, however, declined 0.30 points, while the Float Index fell 0.10 points and the Sensitive Float Index dropped 0.26 points.

Despite the marginal movement in the benchmark index, trading activity increased significantly. A total of 15.34 million shares of 360 listed companies were traded through 53,030 transactions, generating a turnover of Rs 5.79 billion.

Benihydro Energy Limited continued to trade at the positive circuit level. Its share price increased by Rs 60.80 to close at Rs 466.70. Upper Mailung Khola Hydropower also gained 12 percent, while Dordi Khola Hydropower recorded a gain of more than 6.5 percent.

Unilever Nepal recorded the largest decline among the traded companies, with its share price falling 4.91 percent.

In terms of turnover, Ghalemdi Hydro led the market with shares worth Rs 285.8 million traded. Peoples Hydropower followed with turnover exceeding Rs 245 million, while Sanima Middle Tamor Hydropower recorded transactions worth more than Rs 210 million.

Of the 13 sub-indices, four closed higher while nine declined.

The Hydropower sub-index recorded the strongest gain, rising 1.65 percent. The Microfinance, Mutual Fund and Others sub-indices also posted marginal gains.

The market’s near-flat closing came despite a notable increase in trading activity, with total turnover rising to nearly Rs 5.8 billion as investors remained active in selected hydropower and other stocks.