KATHMANDU: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index gained 6.62 points to close at 2,664.13 points on Tuesday, recovering in the final phase of trading after remaining mostly negative throughout the session.

The Sensitive Index rose 1.48 points, while the Float Index and Sensitive Float Index increased by 0.62 points and 0.55 points, respectively.

Despite the rise in the benchmark index, overall trading activity declined compared to the previous session. On Monday, shares worth around Rs 7.18 billion were traded. On Tuesday, a total of 15.42 million shares of 349 companies changed hands through 57,044 transactions, with total turnover standing at Rs 5.65 billion.

Shikhar Power Development was the top gainer of the day, with its share price rising 5.94 percent. River Falls Power also gained nearly 6 percent, while the share prices of other advancing stocks increased by less than 4.5 percent.

Beni Hydropower Project, which had been trading at positive circuit levels in recent sessions, recorded the largest decline on Tuesday, falling 5.04 percent.

Global IME Bank led the market in terms of turnover, with shares worth Rs 231.4 million traded. Butwal Power Company recorded turnover of around Rs 195 million, while Kumari Bank saw transactions exceeding Rs 190 million.

Of the 13 subgroups, nine posted gains while four declined. The Hotel and Tourism subgroup recorded the highest increase, rising 1.07 percent.

The Banking, Development Bank, Hydropower, Life Insurance, Microfinance, Mutual Fund, Non-Life Insurance and Trading subgroups also posted modest gains.