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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 13. 28 points to close at 2, 664. 48 points on Wednesday.

The sensitive index dropped by 0. 05 points to close at 456. 72 points.

A total of 22,075,769-unit shares of 307 companies were traded for Rs 9. 90 billion.

Meanwhile, Butwal Power Company Limited (BPCL), Pure Energy Limited (PURE) and Synergy Power Development Ltd were the top gainers today with their price surging by 9. 99 percent.

Likewise, Saptakoshi Development Bank Ltd (SAPDBL) was the top loser as its price fell by 5. 89 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 43 trillion.

The total expenditure of the government stood at Rs 1157.89 billion during the 10 months of Fiscal Year 2024/25, the Financial Comptroller General Office (FCGO), the Ministry of Finance, said.  

The recurrent expenditure, capital expenditure, and financial expenditure amounted to Rs 773.23 billion, Rs 120.38 billion, and Rs 264.29 billion respectively.

In the review period, total revenue mobilization of the Government of Nepal (including the amount to be transferred to provincial and local governments) stood at Rs.922.43 billion.

The total revenue comprises tax revenue amounting Rs 828.94 billion and non-tax revenue Rs 93.49 billion in the review period.

Cash Balance at various accounts of the government maintained with NRB remained at Rs 360.98 billion (including Provincial Government and Local Government Accounts) in mid-May 2025. Such a balance was Rs 93.96 billion in mid-July 2024.

Similarly, in the review period, total expenditure of provincial governments stood at Rs 100.17 billion and resource mobilization stood at Rs 161.77 billion.

The total resource mobilization of provincial governments includes the grants and revenue transferred from the Government of Nepal amounting Rs 123.15 billion and revenue and other receipts of the provincial governments amounting Rs 38.62 billion in the review period.

CPN (Maoist Centre) Chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that economic transformation can be achieved by proper management and operation of natural resources.

While traveling to Mustang from Myagdi, after observing Bhurung-Tatopani, Rupsey Waterfall, and Andhagalchi in Annapurna Rural Municipality this morning and interacting with local representatives and residents, he pointed out the possibility of utilising natural resources to promote tourism in the region.

"I discussed the condition of the Kaligandaki Corridor Road, the potential of natural resources, operation issues, the need for infrastructure development, and to understand the problems of the people while traveling from Pokhara to Mustang. I see the possibility of developing health tourism by preserving, promoting, and managing the natural hot springs in Myagdi," he said.

Chairman Dahal emphasized the need to identify, promote, and develop natural resources to create job opportunities in the hydropower projects being constructed in the Kaligandaki and surrounding rivers, as well as to increase tourist attraction to the mountains, waterfalls, and beautiful scenery. He said that promoting tourism can change the economic condition of citizens.

After taking a bath at the Bhurung-Tatopani hot spring pond, Chairman Dahal interacted with the chairman of Annapurna Rural Municipality, Bharat Kumar Pun, former chairman Dam Bahadur Pun, local residents, and other leaders and activists.

During the interaction, local residents demanded arrangements for safe and regular transportation by controlling landslides and preventing erosion on the Myagdi section of the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road.

The Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has begun preparations for its monetary policy for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26. The central bank on Monday sought input from stakeholders on the new policy. 

Then-Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari described his last monetary policy, for the current fiscal year 2023/24, as “cautiously flexible”. With Biswo Poudel now leading the central bank, there is growing curiosity about the direction of the upcoming policy. In a recent meeting with Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Governor Poudel said that the central bank would support the implementation of fiscal policy through monetary tools, while also strengthening its supervisory capacity to enhance the effectiveness of the financial sector. Finance Minister Paudel expressed confidence that the new governor would ensure better coordination between fiscal and monetary policies to address economic challenges.

Given Governor Poudel’s commitment to aligning monetary policy with fiscal objectives, the upcoming monetary policy is expected to support the priorities outlined in the 2025/26 budget. With the economy still under pressure, public attention is now focused on how monetary policy can help revive economic activity.

The new budget includes provisions for establishing an asset management company to address non-performing loans (NPLs) and implementing loan restructuring reforms. Although past budgets also made similar promises, they were not followed by concrete action. 

Banking expert Anal Raj Bhattarai said the monetary policy must prioritize setting up the asset management company to tackle the growing volume of NPLs in the banking sector. He added that rising NPLs across multiple sectors must be addressed through comprehensive policy reforms. “The policy may include detailed provisions on interest capitalization and extended timelines for interest payments,” Bhattarai said. He expects the upcoming monetary policy to focus on boosting liquidity and stimulating domestic demand.

“The Working Capital Loan Guidelines have made it difficult for businesses to operate, and non-performing loans are on the rise. The new policy is likely to address these challenges,” Bhattarai told ApEx. “Given the lack of momentum in the capital market, the policy could also introduce some easing measures.

Bhattarai also said the new monetary policy could introduce flexibility in the classification and provisioning of bad loans.

Currently, banks are required to make 100 percent provisions for NPLs within one year. Bhattarai proposed extending this timeline to two years, similar to India’s three-year model, to ease capital pressures and enable banks to issue new loans. Governor Poudel has been actively consulting stakeholders, indicating his intent to understand the challenges faced by businesses and the private sector.

Bhattarai expressed confidence in Poudel’s leadership, noting that previous governors, including Adhikari, introduced impactful and market-sensitive policies in their first year.

With Poudel now at the helm, Bhattarai anticipates a similarly pragmatic approach. Compared to the “cautiously flexible” policy of the current fiscal year, he expects the upcoming monetary policy to be flexible.

The World Bank has slashed its 2025 global growth forecast, citing trade tensions and policy uncertainty as the United States imposed wide-ranging tariffs that weigh on global economic forecasts, Aljazeera reported.

On Tuesday, the bank lowered its projection for global gross domestic product (GDP) growth to 2.3 percent in its latest economic prospects report, down from the 2.7 percent that it expected in January. This is the most recent in a series of downgrades by international organisations.

In its twice-yearly Global Economic Prospects report, the bank lowered its forecasts for nearly 70 percent of all economies, including the US, China and Europe, as well as six emerging market regions, from the levels it projected just six months ago before US President Donald Trump took office, according to Aljazeera.

“That’s the weakest performance in 17 years, outside of outright global recessions,” said World Bank Group chief economist Indermit Gill.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Governor Gavin Newsom filed an emergency court motion Tuesday to block US President Donald Trump from deploying military forces for law enforcement in the state.

They say that the deployment of 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines violates federal law, undermines state authority, and exacerbates public unrest. The move followed a lawsuit challenging Trump's directive to federalize the California National Guard, according to Reuters.

Officials argue that the unlawful employment of troops without state approval threatens public safety and democracy, and that local law enforcement, not the military, should conduct civilian policing.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has firmly rejected accusations by US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that she encouraged violent protests in Los Angeles following immigration raids. Sheinbaum called the claims “absolutely false” and reaffirmed her government’s stance against violence, urging Mexicans in the US to live peacefully, according to Firstpost.

Noem said that Sheinbaum incited trouble, saying that violence during protests would not be tolerated.

The protests, which began peacefully, became tense as President Donald Trump sent the National Guard, declaring them a "rebellion" against federal authority, Firstpost reported.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 1, 300 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 191, 300 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 190, 000 per tola on Tuesday.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 2, 165 per tola today.