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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 5. 08 points to close at 2, 613. 08 points on Tuesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 1. 00 points to close at 440. 14 points.

A total of 11,626,020-unit shares of 311 companies were traded for Rs 6. 19 billion.

Meanwhile, Mandakini Hydropower Limited (MHL) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, River Falls Power Limited (RFPL) was the top loser as its price fell by 8. 96 percent.

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

The price of gold has increased by Rs 1, 000 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 158, 000 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 157, 000 per tola on Monday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 1, 860 per tola today.

Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has provided over Rs 25.5bn in interest subsidies for concessional loans until mid-December of the fiscal year 2024/25. The government issued integrated procedures for interest subsidies on concessional loans in 2018. It initially covered seven categories with 5-6 percent interest subsidies. This was later amended to include 10 sectors.

The central bank has been providing interest subsidies for 10 different types of loans under the subsidized loan program. The NRB provides subsidies on commercial agriculture and livestock loans both with and without collateral. Similarly, it offers interest subsidies on educated youth self-employment loans, migrant returnee youth project loans, women entrepreneurship loans, Dalit community business development loans, and higher technical and vocational education loans, among others. The NRB has also provided interest subsidies for private housing construction loans for earthquake victims, textile industry operation loans, loans for training provided by institutions recognized by the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), and youth self-employment loans.

These loans are distributed through different commercial banks, development banks, finance companies and microfinance institutions. However, banks and financial institutions haven't disbursed concessional loans for the past six months. Central bank officials say they have informally instructed bank and financial institutions (BFIs) not to disburse such loans as funds provided by the government for the program have been used up.

According to the NRB, 113,148 borrowers have availed of loans totaling Rs 172.29bn by mid-December under the interest subsidy program. Commercial banks have disbursed Rs 147.17bn to 96,372 borrowers and development banks extended Rs 22.42bn to 15,166 borrowers. Likewise, finance companies and micro finance institutions approved Rs 2.64bn to 1,550 borrowers and Rs 59m to 60 borrowers, respectively, in subsidized loans.

BFIs cannot charge more than two percent points above their base rate for these subsidized loans. They are also prohibited from charging additional fees except for loan interest, credit information fees, insurance premiums and loan security charges. Interest subsidies are available for up to five years. However, banks are free to determine the total loan period. Women entrepreneurship loans receive a six percent interest subsidy, while other categories receive five percent.

Commercial agriculture and livestock loans are capped at Rs 50m, educated youth self-employment at Rs 700,000 and migrant returnee youth project loans at Rs 1m. Similarly, women entrepreneurship loans are limited to Rs 1.5m, Dalit community business loans to Rs 1m and higher technical education loans to Rs 500,000. BFIs are allowed to disburse up to Rs 300,000 on private housing loans for earthquake victims, while textile industry loans are capped at Rs 50m, CTEVT-recognized training loans at Rs 200,000 and youth self-employment loans at Rs 500,000.

The Mechi Customs Office has witnessed a 55.70 percent rise in tea exports in the last six months of the current fiscal year, 2081/82. The export of tea in the past six months (Shrawan-Poush) amounted to nearly Rs 3 billion.

A total 11,232 metric tons of tea was exported via the Mechi Customs Office, according to information officer Ganapati Kandel. In the same period last year, it had recorded exports worth Rs 1.90 billion.

Chairman of the Tea Producers' Association, Aditya Parajuli, informed that it was a positive trend in tea export. The decrease in tea production in India is largely behind the rise in export. "If the government ensures further facilitation in tea export in view of growing demand in the Indian market, they will be able to make the foreign trade of tea at a higher amount.

Similarly, the Office shared that the export of black cardamom increased by 16 percent in the past six months. The spice worth Rs 4.55 billion was sold to the foreign market. It had posted an income of Rs 3.90 billion.

Another export posting increase is plywood. Its exports upped by 27.90 percent. Even the cement clinker was exported in a higher amount this time.

However, it was reversed in case of iron, chhurpi, ginger, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, among others.