The Nepal Stock Exchange index crossed the 3,000 point mark for the first time on Thursday, driven by strong buying in banking, hydropower, and insurance sectors. The milestone represents a 35 percent gain from the beginning of the fiscal year.

Market analysts attribute the rally to declining interest rates, improved corporate earnings, and increased retail investor participation through online trading platforms. Daily trading volumes have doubled compared to last year.

The hydropower sector was the top performer, with shares of major companies gaining over 50 percent as the government announced new policies to promote clean energy exports to India.

Securities regulators cautioned investors about the risks of speculative trading and urged them to make investment decisions based on fundamental analysis rather than market momentum.