KATHMANDU: Nepal News presents today’s snapshot of Nepal’s economic activities. Get quick updates on major market movements, policy shifts, and financial developments shaping the economy of Nepal. Here are the key economic highlights for today:

NEPSE Rises by 28.73 Points on Monday

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index increased by 28.73 points, closing at 2,639.37, marking a 0.10% rise. Today, shares of 335 companies totaling 12,459,951 units were traded in 84,990 transactions, with a total turnover of NPR 647.37 crore. All sectoral sub-indices showed gains today. The Production & Processing sector rose the most by 3.05%, followed by Development Banks (2.70%) and Hotels & Tourism (2.53%). Other sector increases include: Banking 0.67%, Finance 0.83%, Life Insurance 0.49%, Hydropower 1.14%, Investment 1.25%, Microfinance 0.53%, Mutual Funds 0.43%, Non-life Insurance 0.57%, Trading 0.22%, and Others 0.73%. Shares of Sagar Distillery Limited, SY Panel Nepal Limited, Shringar Agritech Industries Limited, Bandipur Cable Car & Tourism Limited, and Ruru Hydropower Project Limited hit the positive circuit limit. On the other hand, the Standard Chartered Bank Limited Debenture fell the most, down 2.49%. Based on both turnover and volume, Shivam Cement Limited recorded the highest trading value today at NPR 38.69 crore, with 622,840 shares exchanged.

National Economic Census to Begin From Mid-March

The government has planned to conduct the second Economic Census, 2025 from mid-March to mid-July. The census aims to provide an accurate picture of the national economy through statistical information. This information on it was shared at a programme organized here to unveil the schedule, log and theme of the census. The census will be conducted under the theme of ‘Economic Census for Measuring Economy’ from March 15 to July 16, 2025, according to the National Statistics Office. Office Spokesperson and Deputy Chief Statistics Officer Dhundiraj Lamichhane informed that details of the census would be released gradually starting from the fiscal year, 2026-27. As he stated, the census is a significant initiative for gathering basic and reliable statistics, which are essential for formulating economic policies, plans and development strategies. Lamichhane added that the main purpose of national economic enumeration is to collect data on the number, type, investment, employment, production, and service flow of industries, trade, businesses, services, cooperatives, and private–public institutions.

Rs 133.5 Million Collected in Govt Fund for Restoration After Gen Z Movement

A total of Rs 133.5 million has been collected so far in a government fund established to restore physical properties damaged during arson and vandalism occurred during the September 8–9 Gen Z movement. According to the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance, Tanka Prasad Pandeya, as of this morning, Rs 133,565,000 has been deposited in the Fund. Siddhartha Premier Insurance Limited today contributed Rs 10.1 million to the fund under its Institutional Social Responsibility initiative. Last week, insurance company MetLife Nepal deposited Rs 2.5 million, while earlier the Oriental Insurance had chipped in Rs 2 million. The fund was established in the aftermath of the Gen Z movement, calling on the public, private sector, non-resident Nepalis, development partners, and donor agencies for their assistance. The government has also provided provisions allowing contributors to deduct or claim expenses while calculating their taxable income for the current fiscal year. Anyone wishing to chip in the fund can deposit the amount in the Rastriya Banijya Bank account number 1960100102070004.

Vijaya Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Issues FPO from Today

Vijaya Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha has started issuing its Further Public Offering (FPO) from today. The institution has issued a total of 466,817 shares at a face value of Rs. 100 per share. The FPO has been issued to maintain a 70:30 share ownership ratio between promoters and the general public after the merger of the former New Sarathi Laghubitta and Vijaya Laghubitta. The FPO issuance will close as early as Poush 24 and no later than Magh 5, after banking hours. Investors must apply for a minimum of 10 shares and can apply for a maximum of 1,000 shares. Applications can be submitted through the C-ASBA system via all C-ASBA member banks and financial institutions approved by the Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON), as well as through the online platform “Mero Share” developed by CDS and Clearing Limited. NMB Capital Limited has been appointed as the issue and sales manager for the FPO. The institution received approval from the Securities Board of Nepal to issue the FPO on Mangsir 14.

Siddhartha Premier Insurance Donates Rs 10.1 Million to Government Reconstruction Fund

Siddhartha Premier Insurance Limited has provided financial assistance of Rs 10.1 million (NPR 1 crore 1 lakh) to the Government of Nepal’s Physical Infrastructure Reconstruction Fund. The company stated that the contribution was made to support the reconstruction of national heritage sites and physical infrastructure damaged by arson and vandalism during the Gen-Z movement on September 8-9, as well as for economic recovery and relief efforts. At a program held at the Ministry of Finance, the company’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Sureshlal Shrestha, handed over the cheque to Finance Minister Rameshwar Prasad Khanal. Senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, along with company directors and the Chief Executive Officer, were also present at the event. During the program, Finance Minister Khanal expressed his gratitude for the support. Chairman Shrestha stated that the contribution was made out of a sense of duty toward the nation, and informed that the company had also donated Rs 5.1 million to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund last year for flood and landslide victims. He further shared that insurance claims amounting to Rs 1.92 billion have already been paid so far for damages caused during the Gen-Z movement.

Egg Price Drops by Rs 90 Per Crate

The price of eggs has been decreased. The Nepal Layers Poultry Association has stated that the farm price has been reduced by Rs 90 per crate. The updated prices will be effective from tomorrow. As a result, the price of large-sized eggs (30 pieces) has dropped from Rs 565 to Rs 475 per crate at the farm. Similarly, the price of medium-sized eggs has decreased from Rs 550 to Rs 460 per crate. According to Binod Pokharel, chairman of the association, the support price is determined based on the rate from large farms, leading to a reduction in consumer prices from Rs 25 to Rs 20 per piece. Chairman Pokhrel stated that with the current lower consumption and higher production compared to the past, the demand for eggs will increase again as winter subsides and daily life becomes easier. “The production cost of eggs is Rs 19.12 per egg. Calculating this, the cost price for farmers is Rs 574.06 per crate. If the price of eggs drops again when it is close to the cost price, farmers will incur additional losses,” he said. The association has been adjusting the support price of eggs according to the market demand.

Internal Revenue Office Bhairahawa Exceeds Revenue Collection Target

The Internal Revenue Office, Bhairahawa has collected revenue exceeding its target during the first five months of the current fiscal year. The office had set a target of collecting NPR 5.36 billion 83 million 8 thousand during the period, but achieved 121.1 percent of the target, amounting to NPR 6.50 billion 32 million 7 thousand. According to Chief Tax Officer Premraj Pokhrel, the office had collected NPR 4.51 billion 8 million 47 thousand during the same period of the previous fiscal year. He said that excise duty accounts for the largest share of revenue, at nearly 80 percent. More than 82,000 business taxpayers fall under the jurisdiction of the Internal Revenue Office, Bhairahawa.

Home Loan Lending Surges Despite Sluggish Credit Demand in Other Sectors

Even as credit demand in other business and productive sectors remains weak, banks and financial institutions are increasingly focusing on home loans, also known as personal housing loans. Lending under this category by 54 institutions—including commercial banks, development banks, and finance companies—has risen sharply, nearing NPR 500 billion. Data from Nepal Rastra Bank show that by the end of Kartik in the current fiscal year, banks and finance companies had extended total loans of NPR 5.633 trillion. Of this, NPR 442.14 billion was issued specifically for personal housing purposes, representing an increase of NPR 44.9 billion compared to the same period last fiscal year. During the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year, total lending stood at NPR 5.280 trillion, with NPR 397.23 billion allocated to personal housing loans. The central bank attributes the growth in housing loans mainly to changes in monetary policy, which increased the personal housing loan limit from NPR 15 million to NPR 30 million. Commercial banks accounted for the largest share, disbursing NPR 5.009 trillion in total loans by the end of Kartik. Of this amount, NPR 343.41 billion went toward personal housing loans—an increase of NPR 23.77 billion year-on-year.

Ram Krishna Khatriwada Appointed Independent Director of NIC Asia Bank

Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nepal Infrastructure Bank, Ram Krishna Khatriwada, has been appointed as an independent director of NIC Asia Bank. A meeting of the bank’s Board of Directors decided to appoint him to the post of independent director for a term of four years. According to a press release issued by the bank on Monday, Khatriwada is a well-known expert in finance, infrastructure, and management, with long-standing involvement in the banking and financial sector. A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Chartered Economist (ChE), he brings more than two decades of professional experience in infrastructure development, project development and management, energy regulation, and public–private partnerships (PPP), among other areas. Khatriwada has previously served as a director and CEO of Nepal Infrastructure Bank Limited. He has also worked as a member of the Electricity Regulatory Commission, General Manager and Company Secretary of NIBL Ace Capital Limited, and Financial Analyst and Assistant General Manager at the Hydroelectricity Investment and Development Company Limited (HIDCL). In addition, he has held senior positions at several key public and private institutions, including the Investment Board Nepal.

Gold and Silver Prices Surge in Nepal

The price of gold in the Nepali market has risen again. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of gold increased by Rs 4,600 per tola on Monday. With this increase, gold is trading at Rs 265,000 per tola in the local market today. On the previous day, gold was traded at Rs 260,400 per tola, after falling by Rs 2,100. Similarly, the price of silver has also gone up today. Silver has increased by Rs 185 per tola and is currently trading at Rs 4,685 per tola.