Nepal, July 10 -- Share trading turnover climbed to a two-and-a-half-month high on Friday even as the benchmark NEPSE index edged down by 1.13 points to close at 2,600.78.

The banking, development bank, finance, hotel and tourism, hydropower, life insurance and other sub-indices ended in the red.

Share prices of 135 listed companies declined, with Bhagwati Hydropower Development Company posting the steepest loss of 7.84 percent.

Meanwhile, investors in 120 companies recorded gains. Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha was the day's top gainer, with its share price rising by 10.66 percent.

Despite the slight decline in the benchmark index, daily turnover surged to Rs 6.86 billion, up from Rs 4.61 billion on Thursday.

It was the hi...