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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 33. 42 points to close at 2,682.29 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 6. 44 points to close at 458. 22 points.

A total of 12,371,318-unit shares of 304 companies were traded for Rs 6. 14 billion.

Meanwhile, Trishuli Jal Vidhyut Company Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 8. 55 percent. Likewise, Janaki Finance Company Limited (JFL) was the top loser as its price fell by 9. 99 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 44 trillion.

The gold is being traded at Rs 154, 200 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the silver is being traded at Rs 1, 925 per tola today. 

Banks and financial institutions have Rs 671bn in lending funds, yet loan disbursement remains stagnant, leaving Rs 400bn in excess liquidity, according to the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).

“The government can currently borrow from banks at an average rate slightly above four percent,” an NRB official said. “This window is temporary, so the government should consider raising internal loans to boost spending.”

The Public Debt Management Office’s 2023-24 report shows the average internal loan interest rate is 5.27 percent, recently dropping below five percent. Funds raised should prioritize development and infrastructure, the NRB official emphasized.

“The government’s spending patterns are flawed,” he added, citing the establishment of Public Service Commissions in all provinces and new Planning Commissions as unnecessary burdens.

Public debt has risen to 44.14 percent of GDP from 42.67 percent last year. As of Oct-Nov,
Rs 2.51trn in public debt comprises Rs 1.26trn in external and Rs 1.25trn in internal debt, split nearly evenly. Some loans are used to repay older debts, with the ratio expected to drop to 42 percent by the fiscal year’s end.

Economists criticize the focus on debt repayment over capital expenditures. “Public debt is high but manageable,” said Finance Ministry spokesperson Mahesh Bhattarai. “During economic stagnation and bank liquidity surplus, borrowing for development can ease bottlenecks.”

Contractors report delayed payments, with Rs 18bn owed for completed projects and over Rs 40bn in claims pending, which could invigorate the economy if settled. However, the government’s capacity to increase internal borrowing is constrained. Internal loans should remain five percent to 5.5 percent of GDP, aligning with this year’s budget target.

Nepal’s debt-to-GDP ratio has exceeded 60 percent in the past, but while rising, it remains below critical levels. Studies show high ratios slow economic activity. Nepal benefits from concessional external loans under two percent interest but risks exchange rate fluctuations, causing a Rs 59.15bn loss in 2022-23 and a Rs 4.23bn gain in 2023-24.

Internal loans, though costlier, carry no exchange rate risks and generate revenue through taxable interest. Banks, while exempt from direct taxes on treasury bills and bonds, pay 30 percent corporate tax. Current liquidity presents a fleeting opportunity for internal borrowing.

Experts advise directing such funds to impactful and feasible projects, as internal loans lack the project-specific restrictions of external borrowing.

The Kathmandu Valley has witnessed continuous fall in temperature.

Meteorologist Saroj Pudasaini informed that the minimum temperature was recorded at 3.9 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the season’s coldest morning.

The maximum temperature will remain between 17 to 19 degrees Celsius today. There was sunrise at 6:45 pm while sunset will be at 5:10 pm today.

According to the regular weather bulletin of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the weather is partly cloudy in the hilly areas of Gandaki and Karnali provinces and fair in the rest of the country.

Similarly, there will be foggy weather in many places of Terai and the Kathmandu Valley and smog in some parts.

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the weather will be partly cloudy in the mountainous regions of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces while it will be partly cloudy in some parts of Sudurpaschim, Karnali, Gandaki, Lumbini, Bagmati and Koshi provinces tonight.

The Department has urged all concerned to adopt precautionary measures accordingly in view of foggy climate in many places in the Terai and Valley on Friday morning.

Five persons died when a Bolero jeep en route to Nalgad Municipality-3 from Kalimati met with an accident.

The deceased have been identified as driver Indrajit Thapa (32), Shila Pun (65), Sharda Thapa (33), Laxmi Pun Roka (18), and her son Alochan Roka of Nalgad Municipality-3, Inspector at the District Police Office, Arjun Timilsina informed.

One of the injured is undergoing treatment at a local hospital. 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 45.88 points to close at 2,715.71 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 9.75 points to close at 464. 66 points.

A total of 11,386,854-unit shares of 308 companies were traded for Rs 5. 05 billion.

Meanwhile, Nyadi Hydropower Limited (NYADI) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 9. 97 percent. Likewise, Khanikhola Hydropower Co. Ltd. (KKHC) was the top loser as its price fell by 9.99 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 50 trillion.

Licensed hunters have killed 10 Naurs (Himalayan blue sheep) and five Jharals (Himalayan Tahr) in the first season of hunting at Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve this year.

Altogether 12 foreign hunters had obtained permits for hunting 12 Naurs and eight Jharals and 11 wild boars in the country's only Hunting Reserve for this year.

The Reserve spans 1,325 square kilometers and adjoins Rukum, Myagdi and Baglung districts. It boasts of 1,290 Naurs and 744 Jharals as per the census in 2021.

According to the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Office in Baglung, one licensed hunter from America could not come for hunting and another American hunter could not hunt the Naur. Hunters obtaining permits for wild boars also could not knock down seven wild boars.

Pashupati Adhikari, Information Officer at the Reserve's Office, shared that the hunters from the USA, Spain, Netherlands and Mexico had obtained permission for the hunting for this season.

Permit was open for Nepali hunters for hunting wild boars but the Office did not receive any application from the Nepalis hunters this season, added Chandra Shekhar Chaudhary, Chief Conservation Officer at the Reserve.

The hunting season for this year has been over while the next one starts from March to May.

Hunters along with guides, representatives of the Reserve Office and Nepali Army spend 15 days at maximum in the Reserve that is divided into seven blocks for hunting.

It is said that a foreigner hunter spends around Rs 2 million to Rs 3 million for bidding the price of Naur and Jharal, making necessary arrangements such as license, bloc reserve, helicopters, guide and equipment for hunting etc.

Sudurpaschim Royals trounced Janakpur Bolts in the first match played today under the Nepal Premier League T20 Cricket Tournament. This is Janakpur's first defeat of the tournament.

The spinners of Sudurpaschim gave their best performance in the match held at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, clinching a 72-run victory for the team.

Janakpur Bolts, who were chasing a 124-run victory target posted by Sudurpaschim, scored only 51 runs in 12.1 overs at the loss of all wickets.

Janakpur and Sudurpaschim both have equal eight points from five matches so far.

No Janakpur Bolts players except Joshua Tromp could score runs in the double digits. Tromp hit the highest of 13 runs for Janakpur. 

Sudurpaschim's Harmit Singh, Dipendra Singh Airee and Ishan Pandey each took two wickets while Saif Zaib, Scott Kuggeleijn and Naren Saud took one wicket each to limit Janakpur to 52 runs.

Batting first after winning the toss, Sudurpaschim collected 123 runs in the allotted 20 overs at the loss of nine wickets.

Opener Binod Bhandari scored the highest 33 runs with the help of three fours and one six in 37 balls. Saib Zaib made 21 runs, Ishan Pandey 17 runs and Brandon McMullen 11 runs. Other players could not score runs in the double digits.

Kishor Mahato alone claimed four wickets for Janakpur. Similarly, Sher Malla and Araniko Yadav each took two wickets while Harsh Thakur took one wicket.