After several weeks of decline, the NEPSE index registered a 25.49 points increase at the end of five-day trading Friday. Trading opened at 322.94 points Monday and closed at 348.43 points Friday.

Altogether 163,289 shares valued at Rs.55.5 million were traded through 4,507 transactions. The bullish trend in the NEPSE index this week resulted after a rise in the indices of insurance and finance sectors.

For the first time, finance sector shares accounted for 45.10 percent of the total shares traded as banking sector accounted for only 24.15 percent of the total shares traded traded during the week. Shares of 52 out of the 57 enlisted companies exchanged hands.

Shares of Nepal Merchant Banking & Finance Company were in highest demand as 49,120 shares valued at Rs.11.545 million were traded through 2,706 transactions.