KATHMANDU: Welcome to Nepal News’ Evening Economic Brief—your go-to source on key financial updates in Nepal. Stay informed with concise insights on market trends, economic indicators, and policy shifts. Here are today’s top economic news highlights.

Hydropower Leads As NEPSE Closes With Rs 18.49 Billion Turnover: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index closed slightly higher on Thursday, the final trading day of the week. The benchmark NEPSE rose by 3.76 points to settle at 2,982.64. Alongside the index uptick, total trading volume also saw a significant rise, with shares worth Rs 18.49 billion exchanged. A total of 38.96 million units of shares were traded. Out of 328 companies that witnessed transactions, share prices of 123 companies increased, while 127 declined.

NRB Collects Rs 78 Billion in Deposits Out of Targeted Rs 80 Billion: Nepal Rastra Bank sought to collect Rs 80 billion in deposits on Wednesday but accepted only Rs 78 billion. Banks and financial institutions did not provide the full amount after the interest rate on deposit instruments was increased. The central bank implemented the lowered interest rate on permanent deposits as per the monetary policy for the current fiscal year. Accordingly, the central bank did not want to offer more than 2.75 percent interest to banks and financial institutions on deposit instruments.

Inactive and Shareless Demat Accounts to Be Frozen: Demat accounts with no shares and those not renewed for five years will be frozen. This provision has been included in the Securities Board of Nepal’s policy and program for the fiscal year 2025/26 released on Wednesday. The board has also directed the concerned agency, CDS and Clearing Ltd., to implement the new provision.

Over 34,000 Contributors Take Rs 7.9 Billion Loans from Social Security Fund: A total of 34,097 contributors have taken Rs 7.9 billion in loans from the contribution-based Social Security Fund. The Social Security Fund informed at a press conference on Wednesday that in the last three years, 34,020 contributors under the loan and special loan schemes borrowed Rs 6.9 billion.

Bishal Bazar Becomes Largest Company in Nepal’s Stock Market: Based on market capitalization, Bishal Bazar has become the largest company in Nepal’s stock market. By Wednesday, the total market value of all shares of the company reached Rs 222 billion. Companies with higher capitalization have a greater impact on the overall market. Nepal Reinsurance has become the second-largest company after Bishal Bazar. Nepal Telecom, which held the top position a year ago, is now in third place. Nepal Reinsurance has surpassed Telecom.

Nepal Introduces Unified and Scientific Local Governance Evaluation System: The Government of Nepal has implemented a unified and scientific performance evaluation system for all 753 local levels. The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration issued the “Local Governance Performance Evaluation (Management and Operation) Procedure, 2025” on June 16 and has fully enforced it from the current fiscal year 2025/26. With the announcement of the new procedure, three previously existing separate evaluation systems have been scrapped.

Insurance Regulator to Supervise Life Insurance Amid Alarming Rise in Illegal ‘Cashback’ Practices: After a disturbing surge in the illegal practice of providing “cashback” (commissions to policyholders) by non-life insurance companies, Nepal’s Insurance Regulatory Authority has announced plans to supervise life insurance businesses as well. Complaints have increased that non-life insurers are offering cashback incentives, which has severely undermined the insurance sector’s integrity. In response, the authority has already completed on-site inspections and supervision of non-life insurance companies.

Bangladeshi Firm Selected to Audit Ten Major Nepali Companies: Bangladeshi company Howladar Yunus & Company has been selected to audit ten major companies in Nepal. The company was selected in the second phase of evaluation. The company will be paid in both Nepali and foreign currencies. It will receive Rs 6.254 million and USD 271,000 (approximately Rs 37.1 million) as payment.

Government’s Youth Self-Employment Fund Headless for Nearly a Year: Around 2,000 youths leave Nepal daily for foreign employment. Although the government has policies, plans, programs, and institutions aimed at retaining youth through self-employment, the implementing body has been without leadership for nearly a year. The Youth and Small Entrepreneur Self-Employment Fund, established to create employment for unemployed youth in Nepal, has been without a chief for almost a year.

Farmer Listing Program Faces Delays in Verification Process: The ‘Farmer Listing’ program initiated by the government to identify genuine farmers and deliver state services directly to them has not been effective. Launched as a national campaign, more than half of all farming households across the country have participated in the program. Although the listing appears encouraging, the verification process remains slow. According to the National Agricultural Census 2021/22, of Nepal’s total 4,130,790 farming households, 57 percent—or 2,369,417 households—have been included in the listing process.

Controversial Stock Exchange Licensing Policy Included Despite Objections: The Securities Board of Nepal has included the controversial issue of licensing a new stock exchange under private investment in its policy and program. Despite widespread opposition in the Federal Parliament and parliamentary committees, citing large-scale commission dealings, the board has included the matter in this year’s policy, confirming its intent to proceed with licensing.

Digital Gender Gap Persists in Nepal Despite Growth in Online Transactions: As digital transactions increase in Nepal, gender inequality remains prevalent. According to the “Global Findex 2025” report published by the World Bank on Wednesday, 58 percent of men in Nepal use digital payment methods, while only 36 percent of women do. The gender gap in digital payments in Nepal stands at 22 percent, higher than the South Asian average of 15 percent.

Nepali Farmers Exploited in Indian Markets While Buying Fertilizer: Due to a shortage of fertilizer, Nepali farmers are forced to travel to Indian border markets in search of urea and DAP. However, Indian traders are found to be charging unreasonably high prices. Nepali farmers have been cheated by Indian traders who overcharge them for fertilizers.

Plot Subdivision Halted in 500 Municipalities Due to Lack of Land Classification: Plot subdivision has been halted in 500 municipalities due to the lack of land classification. Even after three years since the implementation of the Land Use Regulations, only 253 out of 753 municipalities in Nepal have completed land classification. The Department of Land Management and Archives said that since the remaining 500 municipalities have not classified land, all plot subdivisions have been halted from the start of new fiscal year.

Nepal Oil Corporation to Relocate Aviation Fuel Depot from TIA: Nepal Oil Corporation has begun the process of relocating the aviation fuel depot near Tribhuvan International Airport in Sinamangal. Following a Cabinet decision on January 30, 2018, the depot will be moved to Guheshwari, where the Nepali Army has a golf course. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal is currently constructing taxiways and taxiway strips as part of airport expansion.

NTA Approves Construction of 943 Telecom Towers for Ncell and Nepal Telecom: The Nepal Telecommunications Authority has approved the construction of 943 telecom towers for Ncell and Nepal Telecom. The approval was given to help expand services and increase capacity nationwide. On July 14, the authority granted permission for Ncell to build 743 towers and Nepal Telecom to build 200 towers.

Karnali Government Enforces Strict Budget Implementation Guidelines: The Ministry of Economic Affairs of Karnali Province has tightened the implementation of its budget. To implement the budget for the current fiscal year, the ministry has issued a 71-point directive to all provincial ministries, agencies, and commissions. The Ministry of Finance stated that it issued this detailed guidance to uphold financial discipline, transparency, and timeliness by learning from past mistakes.

Imports Worth Rs 625 Billion Entered Nepal Through Birgunj in FY 2024/25: Goods worth Rs 625.97 billion were imported through Birgunj customs in fiscal year 2024/25. Compared to the previous fiscal year 2023/24, imports increased by 15.14 percent, or Rs 82.30 billion, based on value. Petroleum products were the most imported items through this checkpoint last fiscal year.

Daramkhola Hydro Energy to Issue Over 2.4 Million Public Shares from July 31: Daramkhola Hydro Energy Company will issue shares to the public from July 31. The company is set to issue 2,423,185 shares at a rate of Rs 100 per share. Applications can be submitted for a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 50,000 shares.

Vintage Cars to Be Showcased at Upcoming NADA Auto Show: Vintage cars will be displayed at the upcoming NADA Auto Show. The NADA Automobiles Association of Nepal will exhibit vintage cars at the event starting in Bhadra. NADA executive member Anup Kumar Baral said the exhibition will be useful for those interested in learning about and preserving old vehicles. The evolution of vehicles will also be presented through video.

Gold Price Drops by Rs 2,400 Per Tola in a Day: On Thursday, the price of gold fell by Rs 2,400 per tola. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers Association, hallmark gold, which was priced at Rs 197,600 per tola on Wednesday, dropped to Rs 195,200 per tola on Thursday. Similarly, the price of hallmark gold per 10 grams on Thursday was fixed at Rs 167,335. The price of silver on Thursday was fixed at Rs 2,335 per tola.