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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index closed higher on Thursday, the final trading day of the 2082/83 fiscal year, rising 7.50 points to settle at 2,597.80.

The market advanced despite losses in the finance, hotels and tourism, hydropower, and manufacturing and processing sub-indices. The mutual fund sub-index posted the highest gain, rising 1.66 percent.

Share prices of 121 companies increased, with NIBL Growth Fund gaining the most at 14.96 percent, followed by First Microfinance, which rose 14.67 percent.

Meanwhile, share prices of 151 companies declined. Corporate Development Bank recorded the steepest fall, dropping 8.77 percent.

Market turnover also increased on the last trading day of the fiscal year. Shares worth Rs 4.56 billion were traded on Thursday, up from Rs 4.17 billion on Wednesday.

Singati Hydro Energy recorded the highest turnover of the day, with shares worth Rs 247.4 million changing hands.