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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 0. 53 points to close at 2, 644. 70 points on Tuesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 26 points to close at 453. 99 points.

A total of 10,810,106-unit shares of 324 companies were traded for Rs 4. 48 billion.

Meanwhile, Sagar Distillery Limited (SAGAR), Swastik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SWASTIK), Jhapa Energy Limited (JHAPA), Mabilung Energy Limited (MABEL) and Bungal Hydro Limited (BUNGAL) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise,  Green Ventures Limited (GVL) was the top loser as its price fell by 9. 85 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 50 trillion.

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has introduced a series of targeted adjustments aimed at reviving weak credit growth while maintaining financial and external secretary stability. In the first quarter review of the Monetary Policy for Fiscal Year 2025/26 released on Monday, the central bank has struck a moderately accommodative tone as latest figures show that credit expansion remains far below the target of 12 percent set in the monetary policy.

The central bank has reduced the policy rate from 4.5 percent to 4.25 percent, continuing its strategy of gradually narrowing the interest rate corridor. The lowering of policy rate means the central bank wants borrowing to become cheaper as lower policy rate leads to lower interbank rates which will eventually lower lending rates for businesses and individuals. 

The Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) rate, which forms the upper bound of the corridor, has been cut to 5.75 percent from six percent, while the Deposit Facility Rate remains unchanged at 2.75 percent.  Central bank officials say the adjustments are designed to nudge lending rates downward and push the policy rate toward the corridor’s midpoint.

NRB has also left the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) unchanged, signaling that liquidity conditions are adequate and that additional easing in reserve requirements is unnecessary for now.

Meanwhile, the central bank has scrapped the rule requiring institutional fixed deposit rates to be at least one percentage point lower than personal fixed deposits. Institutional depositors will now be eligible for the same rates as individual savers. This step is expected to give banks more flexibility in mobilizing long-term funds at a lower cost.

Similarly, the central bank has doubled the personal overdraft loan limit from Rs 5m to Rs 10m. The provision is intended to stimulate private sector credit demand and support economic activity by making funds more accessible to individuals and businesses.

Likewise, the maximum secured loan ceiling per borrower in microfinance institutions has been raised from Rs 700,000 to Rs 1.5m. The central bank has also allowed microfinance institutions to reschedule or restructure existing loans to ease repayment pressure. 

For borrowers hit by floods and landslides in Ilam and other districts, the central bank has allowed banks and financial institutions to restructure or reschedule affected business loans for one time by recovering a minimum of 10 percent of accrued interest. Citing the growth of digital payments and a dense concentration of physical branches, NRB has permitted banks to merge or consolidate branches inside metropolitan cities to reduce operational costs.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 300 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 253, 300 per tola today.  It was traded at Rs 253, 600 per tola on Monday.

The price of silver, however, has increased by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 3, 545 per tola.

The northern border crossing with China at Tatopani has fallen far short of its revenue target in the first four months of the current fiscal year, collecting only Rs 4.28bn.

According to Chief Customs Officer Rajendra Prasad Chundal, the revenue target for Tatopani this fiscal year is Rs 24.47bn, but only 17.52 percent has been achieved so far. He said revenue collection has suffered due to China’s strict restrictions on container movement and frequent road blockages caused by landslides.

The Customs Office reported that revenue collection stood at Rs 859.92m in July, Rs 791.89m in August, Rs 1.43bn in September, and Rs 1.2bn in October. Once a major contributor to the national economy—collecting up to Rs 5bn annually—Tatopani’s revenue sharply declined after the 2015 earthquake.

“Even when the Kerung border was operational, 25 to 30 containers used to enter through Tatopani daily,” Chundal said. “Now, with the border closed, the number of containers entering Tatopani has decreased instead of increasing.” He added that discussions are ongoing with the Chinese Consulate General, Nepal’s Customs Department, the Chief District Officer, and Chinese authorities to facilitate smooth imports. “We are engaging with both governments to ensure uninterrupted imports through Tatopani, which is currently the only option,” he said. “But the results are still not visible. China does not seem interested in sending goods.” According to him, although some goods arrived after Tihar, only a small number of containers have been entering recently.

Business owners say more than 500 containers have been stuck on the Chinese side since before Dashain due to delays in inspections by Nyalam Customs of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Goods shipped as early as mid-July are still held in Tibetan territory. “We are in serious trouble because goods ordered for the festival and winter seasons have not arrived on time. Our investments are at risk,” said local businessman Nawaraj Timilsina. He noted that only 12 to 15 containers have been entering daily on average.

Before Dashain, Nyalam Customs stopped sending containers, citing landslides and safety risks at the Tatopani border. However, traders say Chinese officials are still delaying inspections and dispatches despite clear weather and open roads. Ishwar Gubhaju, General Secretary of the Sindhupalchowk Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that nearly 1,000 containers are stuck between Khasa and Lhasa.

Tatopani Customs Office information officer Tul Bahadur Pandey confirmed that imports have been decreasing. “The number of containers before Dashain and now is almost the same,” he said. “The low arrival clearly reflects weaknesses on the Chinese side. We have not reduced our inspection capacity or services for traders.”

Businesspeople said that while perishable goods such as apples, grapes, garlic, avocados, and kiwis were cleared before Tihar, electronic items and other merchandise have yet to arrive. Some traders suspect China is deliberately delaying shipments to Nepal, suspecting Nepali traders of supporting pro-Tibet groups.

Chundal said many goods remain stuck in China. “We spoke to Chinese officials after traders complained. They cited traffic congestion due to major construction work on a new city,” he said. Chinese authorities reportedly told them that congestion has intensified because only one lane is functioning.

Tatopani Customs has also reported that Chinese officials will allow electric vehicles to enter Nepal only two days a week, citing reconstruction work in the Khasa market. According to Funu Sherpa, President of the Bhotekoshi Chamber of Commerce, reconstruction in Khasa—including demolition of structures and road expansion—is progressing rapidly. “It appears the reconstruction has sped up, with roads widened by three meters and separate zones being built for private and government structures. Heavy containers and vans are being restricted from entering the main town,” Sherpa said.

Meanwhile, a delegation from the Nepal Truck Transport Entrepreneurs’ Federation met with Bhrigu Dhungana, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ China Division, and Deputy Secretary Manahari Dangal, urging them to facilitate the entry of more than 300 truck containers stuck across the Kerung River before the construction of a new bridge begins. “They have committed to taking the initiative with the Chinese government,” said Arjun Bahadur Sapkota of the federation.

Chief District Officer Bandhu Prasad Bastola of Sindhupalchowk said discussions are underway with Nepal’s Consulate General in Lhasa and officials in Beijing following repeated complaints from traders. “Local-level Nepal–China officials will hold a coordination meeting in November, during which formal talks on container inspections will be held,” he said.