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Prices of gold and silver have continued to climb over the past several days, repeatedly setting new records.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the price of hallmark gold has been fixed at Rs 268,100 per tola (11.66 grams) today, while silver is priced at Rs 4,420 per tola.

These are the highest prices recorded so far for both precious metals.

On Sunday, gold was priced at Rs 258,300 per tola and silver at Rs 4,105 per tola.

The prices increased on Monday to Rs 261,700 and Rs 4,235 per tola respectively, and rose further on Tuesday to Rs 267,200 for gold and Rs 4,255 for silver.

Market analysts attribute the continued rise in gold and silver prices to a stronger US dollar.

In the international market, gold is currently trading at USD 4,525 per ounce, while silver is priced at USD 73 per ounce.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 3. 27 points to close at 2, 584. 49 points on Tuesday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 1. 57 points to close at 447. 58 points.

A total of 7,668,915-unit shares of 328 companies were traded for Rs 1. 47 billion.

Meanwhile, SY Panel Nepal Limited (SYPNL) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 7. 01 percent. 

Likewise, Citizen Life Insurance Company Limited (CLI) was the top loser as its price fell by 5. 97 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 33 trillion.

Nepal’s foreign trade deficit during the first five months of the current fiscal year (mid-July to mid-December) has reached Rs 649.68 billion out of a total foreign trade volume of Rs 882.69 billion.

According to the foreign trade statistics released by the Department of Customs, imports during the review period stood at Rs 766.18 billion, while exports totaled Rs 116.50 billion. Compared to the same period last fiscal year, imports increased by 15.83 percent and exports rose significantly by 58.17 percent, the Department reported.

The country recorded a trade deficit of Rs 339.02 billion with India over the past five months. Imports from India amounted to Rs 434.06 billion, whereas exports were valued at Rs 95.04 billion. Likewise, imports from another neighboring country China totaled Rs 163.73 billion, while exports to that country were limited to Rs 466.8 million.

Romania emerged as the leading country in terms of Nepal’s trade surplus, with a profit of Rs 63.4 million. Nepal also recorded trade surpluses with Sweden and Iraq during the same period.

In terms of imports, petroleum products accounted for the largest share. 

The country imported diesel worth Rs 45.6 billion, petrol worth Rs 27.33 billion, and cooking gas valued at Rs 22.39 billion. 

Other major imports included smartphones worth Rs 19.13 billion, crude soybean oil amounting to Rs 46.97 billion, and iron products valued at Rs 21.84 billion.

Soybean oil was the single largest import item, totaling Rs 46.55 billion. 

In addition, Nepal imported large cardamom worth Rs 5.53 billion, carpets valued at Rs 4.13 billion, and sunflower oil worth Rs 3.73 billion during the review period.

Goods worth Rs 359 billion were imported from the Birgunj Customs Office in five months of the current fiscal year. 

Information Officer of the Birgunj Customs Office, Udaya Singh Bista, said that the total imports of this year's review period were 17 percent more compared to the same period of the last fiscal year. In the first five months of the last fiscal, the Birgunj Customs Office imported goods worth Rs 306 billion. 

Bista said that revenue collection from the Office has also significantly increased after the increase in imports of goods. 

In the first five months of the current fiscal year, petroleum products worth Rs 72.28 billion and iron and iron goods of Rs 31.65 billion were imported. 

Likewise, machinery goods and their parts of Rs 24.60 billion and soybean oil of Rs 22.85 billion were imported from the Birgunj Customs Office during the review period.