August 20: The Nepal Stock Exchange(NEPSE) Index witnessed a loss of 21.91 points or 1.07% and closed at 2011.22 points on the first trading day of the week, Sunday.  The total turnover plunged to Rs 1.44 billion compared to last trading day’s turnover of Rs 1.54 billion.

Experts and seasoned investors say that hike of the interest rates by the banks despite the availability of liquidity in the banking system has created negative sentiment in the stock market, pushing the traders and investors away from the market.

“Despite the pessimism among the investors about the NEPSE, the market will not make a further deep fall though,” said an expert on the NEPSE Index.

During today's trading, a total of 269 scrips exchanged their hands through 43,591 transactions. As many as 4,459,459 shared were traded, amounting to Rs 1.44 billion.

IME Life Insurance Company Limited (ILI) recorded the highest turnover of Rs. 6.63 crores and closed at a market price of Rs. 580. Similarly, Forward Microfinance Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (FOWAD) gained the highest 4.57% for the day.

Meanwhile, 10.35% Agricultural Bank Debenture 2083 (ADBLD83) lost all 10% today.  All sector indices closed in red. Hydropower Index lost the most with a 2.34 percent negative change while the Mutual Fund Index lost the least 0.21%.

Sensitive Index fell by 0.84%, while Float Index and Sensitive Float Index dropped by 0.97% and 0.67% respectively.