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.
NEPSE Ends in Red Despite Initial Surge Following New Governor Appointment: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) index witnessed dramatic fluctuations on Wednesday. Although the market opened on a positive note, it ultimately closed in negative territory, dropping 6.93 points to settle at 2,670.51. The early boost was largely attributed to the appointment of Dr. Biswo Poudel as the new Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank. Within just four minutes of market opening, NEPSE surged by 83 points, reflecting investor optimism. However, the upward momentum was short-lived as the market quickly reversed and ended the day in decline. In terms of trading volume, the day saw transactions worth NPR 10.69 billion. Out of the traded companies, 153 saw a drop in their share prices, while only 93 recorded gains.
Newly Appointed Governor Poudel Takes Office, Prioritizes Supervision: Dr. Biswo Nnath Poudel, appointed as the 18th Governor of the Central Bank, took office today at the Bank’s office in Baluwatar. He stated that he will prioritize supervision of banks and financial institutions. “We cannot just make rules; we must also strengthen supervision,” he said. “We will also emphasize improving the quality of loans.”
Newly Appointed Governor Poudel Signs Decision to Print New bank Notes: After taking office, Governor Poudel signed a decision to print new banknotes of NPR 500 and NPR 1,000 denominations as his first official act. He clarified that monetary policy is a separate subject from fiscal policy. “Monetary policy is not an assistant to the government’s fiscal policy; it is an independent policy. However, if monetary policy creates obstacles in the implementation of the government’s fiscal policy, we will modify it accordingly,” Governor Poudel stated.
Finance Minister Paudel Meets Newly Appointed NRB Governor Poudel: Dr. Biswo Poudel, the newly appointed Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, met with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel this morning at the Ministry of Finance. On the occasion, Minister Paudel congratulated Governor Poudel warmly and wished him a successful tenure. The Finance Minister emphasized the importance of coordination between fiscal policy and monetary policy and expressed confidence that the new Governor would take significant initiatives to resolve the challenges faced in the economy and monetary sector.
NRB to Withdraw NPR 5 billion from Banking System on Thursday: Due to excessive liquidity in the market recently, Nepal Rastra Bank has been continuously withdrawing deposit amounts from the banking system. On Sunday alone, the Bank withdrew NPR 2.4 billion from the banking system. The Bank has scheduled a bidding session on Thursday at 3 PM for 21-day instruments. Banks and financial institutions can bid for amounts in multiples of NPR 10 million decreasing by NPR 5 million until the total offered amount is exhausted.
Land Revenue from Real Estate Transactions Rises by 14% Despite Economic Slowdown: Despite a sluggish economy, land and housing transaction revenue rose by 14% in the first 10 months (Shrawan to Baisakh) of the current fiscal year. Last year, by Baisakh, land revenue stood at Rs 33.01 billion. This year, it has reached Rs 37.74 billion — an increase of Rs 4.73 billion or 14.32%. Land revenue includes registration fees and half a dozen other taxes levied by land revenue offices. The total Rs 37.74 billion includes all categories of revenue collected from land transactions.
Nepal’s Imports Near NPR 1.5 trillion in 10 Months of FY 2080/81: Nepal imported goods worth nearly NPR 1.5 trillion in the first ten months of the current fiscal year (FY 2080/81), ending in Baisakh. According to data released by the Department of Customs on Wednesday, the total import value reached NPR 1.474 trillion. This marks a 13.11% increase compared to the same period last fiscal year, when Nepal had imported goods worth NPR 1.303 trillion. The steady rise in imports indicates growing domestic consumption and dependency on foreign goods, despite ongoing efforts to promote local production and reduce trade deficits.
Energy Minister Khadka Says NEA’s White Paper is Realistic: At a meeting of the Infrastructure Development Committee of the House of Representatives held at Singha Durbar on Wednesday, Minister Deepak Khadka stated that the white paper released by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) reflects the realistic financial condition of the authority. He mentioned that the white paper reveals the current true state of NEA, which had been surrounded by uncertainty. The Minister also informed that an audit of the authority will be conducted soon.
Nagdunga–Naubise Road Section to be Closed for Over Four Hours Daily: The main entry route into the capital, the Nagdunga–Naubise road section, will be closed for construction work for four and a half hours each day starting from Jestha 10 (May 24) to Jestha 25 (June 8). According to Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Rishiram Tiwari, the road will be closed from 10:30 AM to 3 PM in coordination with the district administrations of Kathmandu and Dhading. Previously, construction work had been carried out by closing the road at night.
Flyover Under Construction at Gwarko to be Opened to Traffic by End of Jestha: The flyover under construction at Gwarko in Lalitpur is in its final phase. The construction company has informed that the project work is planned to be completed and handed over to the government by Jestha 15 (May 29). However, the company warned that the commencement of operation could face difficulties if the monsoon rains continue.
Internal Revenue Office, Birgunj Collects More Revenue than Target: The Internal Revenue Department had set a revenue collection target of NPR 6.13 billion for the Internal Revenue Office in Birgunj for the first nine months of the current fiscal year. However, the office collected NPR 6.65 billion during this period, achieving 108.44% of its target.
Nepali Congress Urges Budget Allocation to Promote New Entrepreneurship: The Nepali Congress has drawn the finance minister’s attention toward allocating funds to promote emerging entrepreneurs in the FY 2082/83 budget. During a joint budget and policy dialogue organized by the party’s Library and Resource Center Department and its entrepreneurial wing, a formal proposal was handed to Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, emphasizing support for start-ups and innovation.
Maoist MP Demands Clarification on NEA’s Profit-Loss Audits: Madhav Sapkota, a lawmaker from the CPN (Maoist Centre), has called for a joint discussion on the Nepal Electricity Authority’s (NEA) profit-loss audits. Speaking at the Infrastructure Development Committee meeting, Sapkota said clarity is needed on audits conducted during the tenures of NEA’s former Executive Director Kulman Ghising and his successor Hitendra Dev Shakya. He demanded that both current and former NEA chiefs, along with the Auditor General, be summoned to the committee for detailed discussion.
Government Plans to Provide Subsidies on Organic Certification for Agri Exports: The government is preparing to offer concessions on organic certification and laboratory testing fees for exportable agricultural products. This initiative will be introduced through the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, to be presented on Jestha 15. In the previous budget, the government had announced an 8% subsidy for 100% Nepal-produced agricultural and herbal exports. However, traders have complained about not receiving the promised subsidies.
Only 167 Municipalities Complete Land Use Classification in 3 Years: Three years after the Land Use Regulations were issued, only 167 out of Nepal’s 753 local governments have completed land classification. If the remaining 586 municipalities fail to complete the process by Asar (June–July), all land administration tasks — including parcel division — will be halted. A similar halt occurred in 620 municipalities in Bhadra 2081 due to failure in completing land classification. The amended regulation, revised on Bhadra 27, 2081, had extended the deadline for classification to Asar 2082.
Yango Group Launches Ride-Sharing Services in Nepal: Global tech company Yango Group has launched its ride-sharing service in Nepal, initially offering trial operations within the Kathmandu Valley. The company announced that its “City Services” app — Yango — can be freely downloaded from Google Play and the App Store. Under the mobility category, Yango Ride connects passengers with local transport providers and helps partner drivers find customers. The app features integrated maps, a navigation system, and a smart order distribution algorithm designed to benefit both riders and drivers.
NMB Bank Signs Agreement with ACAN: NMB Bank has entered into an agreement with the Association of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ACAN) to provide special financial services targeted at its members. This collaboration reflects NMB Bank’s commitment to inclusive and value-based banking services and aims to support professional communities in Nepal. The bank has introduced special services and loan schemes recognizing the role of professionals in promoting financial literacy and economic development.
Rishi Trade Center Completes 6-Day Adventure Ride to Upper Mustang: The 6-day adventure ride organized by Rishi Trade Center, the official distributor of CFMOTO brand in Nepal, concluded successfully. The ride started on Baisakh 25 (May 8) from the CFMOTO showroom in Naxal with participation of 17 riders and 13 crew members. The ride reached Upper Mustang on Baisakh 29 (May 12) and returned to Kathmandu. Among the riders, 14 were Nepali, 1 Chinese, and 2 Indian. The route passed through Pokhara, Muktinath, Lo Manthang, and the Korala border.
Domestic Tourism Surges in Baglung Amidst Decline in Foreign Visitors: While Baglung sees a decline in foreign tourists, domestic tourism in the district has soared. Recently, Baglung has evolved into a prime destination for internal travelers, primarily for educational visits, sightseeing, and pilgrimage. Popular religious sites like Baglung Kalika, Panchakot, and the Shaligram Museum area are witnessing hundreds of domestic vehicles arriving regularly. The surge has caused parking challenges at the Kalika Temple premises. Similarly, visitor numbers to Nepal’s longest suspension bridge, Bhairavsthan Temple, Gaighat Waterfall, and Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve have also risen annually.
Electrification Delayed Despite Poles Installed a Year Ago in Salyan: Although it has been a year since electricity poles were installed in several settlements of Kapurkot Rural Municipality, including Gadapani, wiring and line expansion have yet to be carried out. In Kumakh Rural Municipality’s wards 1, 4, and 6, poles have been set up in areas like Tatke, Jimali, Wada village, and Swikot, but wires have not yet been installed. In some villages, poles haven’t even been planted yet, delaying full electrification.
Gold Price Jumps by Rs 5,000 per Tola Amid Global Surge: Following a surge in international gold prices, the local market in Nepal witnessed a sharp rise today. After remaining stable for the past three days, gold increased by Rs 5,000 per tola, while silver rose by Rs 50 per tola. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, gold is now priced at Rs 189,800 per tola, and silver is being traded at Rs 1,990. Internationally, gold traded at USD 3,321 per ounce today.
