Kathmandu, April 2 -- The Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) index closed at 2,782.18 on Thursday, gaining 5.82 points, or 0.20 percent, in a session marked by mixed sectoral performance.

Total turnover reached Rs8.81 billion, with 21.31 million shares traded across the market. Despite the marginal rise in the benchmark index, market breadth remained negative as 158 stocks declined, 98 advanced, and 12 remained unchanged.

Sector-wise, the manufacturing and processing sub-index led the gains, rising 1.77 percent, followed by the trading, which climbed 2.53 percent. Development banks, hotels and tourism, hydropower, investment, and mutual funds also closed in positive territory, though with modest gains.

In contrast, the finance sector weighed...