Stock trading surged during five days of business that ended Friday as the index fell only marginally. Altogether 53,288 shares of 37 listed companies worth Rs.22.3 million exchanged hands in 748 transactions during the week compared to 35,075 shares worth Rs.15 million  sold the previous week.

The NEPSE index  fell by just 0.85 points during the week. Trading opened at  282.90 points Monday and closed at 282.90 points Friday.

Commercial bank shares accounted for 78.43 of the total  trade. As the tourism industry  continues to be hit by the September 11 terror attacks in New York and Washington and the retaliatory strikes against Afghan targets, index of hotel shares fell 12 points from 257.53 to 245.10.

Bank of Kathmandu lead trading with 21,972 shares worth Rs.8.2 million sold.