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The price of gold has increased by Rs 200 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 103, 100 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 102, 900 per tola on Wednesday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 102, 600 per tola.

The domestic stock market surged by a whopping 64.87 points on Wednesday. This is the highest single-day gain of the Nepse index in the current fiscal year. The market surged in the last hour of trading with the news that Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has instructed Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari to address the demands of the private sector, including the issue related to the working capital loans guidelines. Following the meeting between the Prime Minister NRB Governor and Finance Minister Bishu Paudel, the central bank amended the arrangements in the guidelines. On Wednesday, the Nepse index rose by 3.15 percent to close at 2125.94 points. A total of 8.73 million shares were traded through 57,312 transactions of 258 companies. With all sub-indices turning green, the Nepse recorded a turnover of Rs 3.5 billion on Wednesday. Himalayan Distillery Limited recorded the highest turnover of Rs 115.2 million while the shares of Himal Dolakha Hydropower Company Limited (HDHPC) were the most traded. On Wednesday, the share prices of 8 companies hit the positive circuit after increasing by 10 percent. The share price of Salt Trading, Himalayan Distillery, Kalika Microfinance, Mirmire Microfinance, Kisan Microfinance, Nadep Microfinance, People's Power, and Khaptad Microfinance increased by 10 percent.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 64.78 points to close at 2,125.84 points on Wednesday. Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 14.09 points to close at 408. 72 points. A total of 8,733,542 unit shares of 258 companies were traded for Rs 3. 50 billion. Meanwhile, Salt Trading Corporation, Himalayan Distillery Limited, Kalika Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited, Mirmire Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha and Kisan Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Similarly, Nepal SBI Bank Debenture was the top loser as its price fell by 1.99 percent. At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 07 trillion.

Internet service providers have warned that internet service ‘may get interrupted any time’. The Internet Service Providers’ Association of Nepal (ISPAN) on Monday said that internet service could be stopped due to Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) arbitrarily fixing the rental fee for using electricity poles for internet cable connectivity. Most of Nepal’s ISPs have been using electricity poles to connect their cables to the subscribers’ homes paying certain fees to the NEA. Organizing a press conference in Kathmandu on Monday, the ISPAN has appealed to the government to intervene claiming that NEA is putting unnecessary pressure on them for not paying the pole rent which the power utility increased unilaterally. According to ISPAN, NEA has snapped the internet and cable wires in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Biratnagar, Inaruwa, Kakadbhita, Gauriganj, Pokhara, Dharan, Khotang, Surkhet, Kailali, Butwal, Tikapur, Attaria, Bhairahawa, Doti, Dhankuta and Duhabi obstructing internet services in different places across the country. As NEA has intensified its action in recent days, ISPAN warned that ISPs will be unable to operate the internet service smoothly and the services are likely to get stopped at any time across the country. ISPAN President Sudhir Parajuli said that the government-owned company (NEA), through its action, is obstructing the government’s Digital Nepal Campaign. “The government’s policy of creating a Digital Nepal cannot be fulfilled without easy access to the internet. However, a state-owned entity is showing arrogance that it can obstruct the internet,” said Parajuli. “As NEA is acting unilaterally, we will not hesitate to stop the internet services. The internet can get interrupted any time,” said Parajuli. Parajuli said though two committees have been formed to resolve the pole renting issue, the dispute has not been resolved. “It has been almost 14 months since the last committee gave its report, but NEA has not taken any decision in this regard,” said Parajuli. The committee has made it clear that the burden of fare increase should not be passed on to consumers and that this increase is against the spirit of Digital Nepal. NEA has been arguing that ISPs have been using the electricity poles but haven't paid the rental charges. According to Subash Khada, CEO of ISPAN, NEA has arbitrarily increased rental charges for using electricity poles by 700 percent without any consultation with stakeholders.