After the halt of 98 days, Secondary market trading finally to resume from 11 AM tomorrow

Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) has instructed the only stock exchange of Nepal, NEPSE, to resume the regular trading of securities from tomorrow i.e. from 15^th Asad, 2077 onwards.

Last time, the market was opened at normal condition on 9^th Chaitra, 2076. But due to unprecedented time and lockdown situation, the trading was temporarily halt first till 17th Chaitra, 2076, and then till 25^th Chaitra and later till 3^rd Baisakh 2077 and again till 15^th, 25^th and 29^th Baisakh, 2077. After the 50 days of the trading suspension, the market was re-opened on 30^th and 31^st Baisakh, on which the NEPSE has put several conditions on its functionality.

Amid the increasing Covid 19 cases and tightening of security, the market was able to open for only two days to close again till 5^th Jestha, 2077 and later till 20^th and then 32^nd Jestha, 2077.

It was on the 84^th day of lockdown period, the government had announced to ease the lockdown, citing to revive the economic activities from 1^st Asar, 2077 onwards. Even though the banks and financial institutions, insurance companies and private vehicles were made open, NEPSE trading was continued to kept on halt first till 4^th of Asar and then on its 11^th such notice of NEPSE, it had mentioned that the market will remain close until any further notice on this matter. It is only today, after so long gap, SEBON has given green signal to resume its operations to NEPSE, from tomorrow.  

Stock market is considered to be the mirror of an economy and has always taken as a liquid market by its participants. However, this long hiatus has raised questions in the credibility in the perception of its liquidity.

Earlier, NEPSE was last traded at 1201.57 index on 31^st Baisakh, 2077 with total market capitalization of Rs 15.36 kharba.