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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 5. 61 points to close at 2, 626.36 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 28 points to close at 442. 26 points.

A total of 24,641,261-unit shares of 314 companies were traded for Rs 9. 37 billion.

Meanwhile, Samaj Laghubittya Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SAMAJ) and Nepal Micro Insurance Company Limited were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Bhugol Energy Development Company Limited (BEDC) was the top loser with its price dropped by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 36 trillion.

The Daunne section of the Narayanghat–Butwal road corridor under the East-West Highway will be disrupted six hours a day for another 15 days. Earlier, the Road Projects Directorate said that the road will be disrupted for six hours at night until April 28. However, the time has been extended to 15 more days due to continuous road expansion work. In a notice issued by the Directorate on Tuesday, it is said that vehicular traffic will be halted from 11 pm to 5 am until May 14. Earlier, work was done by stopping vehicle traffic for four hours in the afternoon for five days in March.

The project said that during the closure of the road, buses, minibuses, microbuses, and small vehicles heading towards Butwal will be stopped at the Hongsi Cement Gate Dumkibas Bazaar section and vehicles heading towards Narayanghat will be stopped at the Chisapani, Bardaghat section.

The Narayanghat–Butwal road section, which includes the 14-kilometer stretch through Daunne hill, is currently under expansion. During the night closures, freight vehicles from the east will be halted at Chormara–Arun Khola, while passenger vehicles will stop at Dumkibas bazaar. Similarly, freight vehicles from the west will be stopped at Jyamire and Hakui, while passenger buses will be held at the Bardaghat–Chisapani section.

However, recent rainfall has left the area muddy and may pose additional challenges for both construction and traffic management. Commuters said that it takes ages to cross just 14 kilometers of the Daunne section. The traffic police have requested drivers to use an alternative route as the road widening work will be done by stopping the vehicles.  

According to Chief Police Inspector Janak Banjara of the District Traffic Police Office , vehicles traveling east to west can utilize the Gaindakot to Kaligandaki Corridor route. Specifically, vehicles heading west from Narayanghat can take the route from Butwal to Palpa and then the Kaligandaki Corridor.

Germany’s economy grew by 0.2 percent in the first quarter of the year, according to preliminary data released Wednesday by the federal statistics office. The slight expansion, fueled by consumer spending and investment, is consistent with market expectations and has helped the economy avoid a technical recession following a 0.2 percent contraction in the previous quarter, Reuters reported.

Despite this positive uptick, Germany is the only G7 country that has not experienced yearly economic growth in the last two years. Analysts warn that President Donald Trump's newly announced US tariffs might have a substantial influence on Germany's export-driven economy, potentially paving the way for a third consecutive year of stagnation – an unprecedented scenario in the country's postwar history.

Preparations have been completed for the Investment Summit to be hosted by the Koshi Province government.

This information was shared at a press conference organized by the Province Investment Authority today.

The Summit will be held at Birendra Auditorium in Biratnagar.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is scheduled to inaugurate the Summit on Thursday and it will conclude the next day.

The organizers hope that this conference would be historic and fruitful for the prosperity and development of Koshi Province, which has immense potential in terms of investment.

Executive Director of the Authority, Dr Saroj Koirala, informed that 71 projects will be showcased in the Summit and the total estimated cost of these projects is Rs 173.49 billion. These showcased projects are from the tourism, agriculture, industry, energy, infrastructure, IT and service sectors. Investors from Nepal, India, China, Russia, the US, South Korea and other Western countries will participate in the event.

Executive Director Dr Koirala shared that the summit will discuss six different topics of agriculture, tourism, industrial production, marketing, infrastructure development, energy and health services and medical education.

Similarly, Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Rewati Raman Bhandari opined that the Investment Summit would help increase employment and boost domestic capital in the province. He also expressed commitment to amend the laws that hinder the investment.

Likewise, Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Ram Bahadur Magar opined that the investment summit would help in making the province economically strong, creating employment and developing potential sectors to attract tourists and increase production.