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This article tries to explain the process behind calculation of NEPSE index along with the concept of market capitalization of a company and total market capitalization of an economy. In addition, it also explores adjustment to base period in case of new listing. Before delve into the calculation method, let us first understand the concepts of market capitalization and total market capitalization.

Concept of Market Capitalization of a Company

In simple term, market capitalization is the current market value of a company. When multiplied the outstanding number of shares of a company by the closing price of a stock, we get the market capitalization of that company. The number of outstanding shares sometimes termed as the ‘number of listed shares’. Whenever, the term ‘number of listed shares’ appears, we should mean it as the number of outstanding shares.

The market capitalization is an important secondary market indicator as it is compared with the indicator of the economy. Most often, it is used as leading indicator of economic situation. In terms of the mathematics, the market capitalization is:

Market Capitalization = Number of Outstanding Shares * Closing Prices of a Stock

Total Market Capitalization

After adding market capitalization of all companies listed in the stock exchange, we will get the total market capitalization of an economy.

How is NEPSE index calculated?

After knowing what the market capitalization and total market capitalization of a company, let move on to the actual calculation process of NEPSE index. As we know that total market capitalization is the sum of market capitalization of all company listed in Nepal Stock Exchange. When we multiply the ratio of current period’s total market capitalization to base period’s total market capitalization by 100, we get the NEPSE index. This method of index calculation is called value weighted method.

This concept can be illustrated with a hypothetical example as follows:

Company NameOutstanding Shares Closing Price Market Capitalization
Base Period Current Period Base PeriodCurrent Period
Total Market Capitalization (Total Market Value)157000187500
NEPSE Index = (Total Market Capitalization of Current Period/Total Market Capitalization of Base Period) *100
                     = (187500/157000)* 100
                     = 119.43 .
Thus, NEPSE index for the current period is 119.43 with reference to the base period.

Adjustment to Base in Case of New Listing

In reality, the number of the listed companies keeps on changing. Similarly, number of outstanding shares also keeps on changing as the company issues right shares or bonus shares or common shares at the time of capital needs. How is the base period adjusted in such a dynamic real world?

The actual practice to adjust the base period is as follows:

Adjusted Base Period = New Market Capitalization Including New Listing/ New Market Capitalization Excluding New Listing * Base Period’s Market Capitalization

Hypothetical Example

This concept is illustrated by the following hypothetical example. First of all imagine that the initial conditions of the outstanding shares and its prices as under:

Company NameOutstanding SharesClosing PricesMarket Capitalization of Base Period
Total Market Capitalization (Total market value) 157000

Now suppose that the number of outstanding shares and the prices of the stocks at current period changed as presented below. Company ‘A’ issued 50 bonus shares and prices of the stocks altered.

Company Name Outstanding Shares Closing Prices New Market Capitalization
Base PeriodCurrent PeriodCurrent PeriodExcluding New ListingIncluding New Listing
Total Market Capitalization (Total Market Value)175500177750

Following the above adjustment formula,

Adjusted Base Year = 177750/175500 * 157000 = 159012.82 .
Now the NEPSE Index for current period is, (177750/159012.82) *100 = 111.78.

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