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The price of gold has increased by Rs 8, 100 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 248, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 240, 400 per tola on Monday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 105 and is being traded at Rs 3, 325 per tola today.

The Bailey bridge being built by China at Lende Khola along the Nepal–China border in Rasuwagadhi has reached its final stage, raising hopes that the key Rasuwagadhi–Kerung trade point will reopen within two weeks. According to officials, all construction works are being carried out by the Chinese side. 

On Sunday, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song shared a video on X showing the under-construction bridge with the caption “Pushing Ahead”, indicating that China was making maximum efforts to bring the vital trade route in operation at the earliest. 

The bridge will span 90 meters and have a load-bearing capacity of 55 tons. The approach road on the Chinese side has already been completed, while around 20 meters of approach road on the Nepali side needs to be built. Officials say the construction of the approach road will begin once the bridge installation work is complete.

The Bailey bridge is being constructed as the 100-meter-long Miteri (Friendship) Bridge was swept away by floods on July 8. The floods cut off the major trade link with China, bringing bilateral trade to a halt ahead of the major festive season.

Nepal imported goods worth nearly Rs 80bn through the Rasuwagadhi Customs Office during the first 11 months of 2024/25. The imports generated Rs 28.71bn in revenue for the government. With containers stranded on both sides of the border, much of Nepal–China trade shifted to the Tatopani border in Sindhupalchowk. However, that crossing was also closed soon after, following landslides that blocked the Araniko Highway. As a result, traders were forced to import goods from China via Mustang’s Korala border—a detour that added both time and cost.

The closure of the two northern border points hit automobile distributors particularly hard. Many had received significant bookings for China-made vehicles during the NAIMA Nepal Mobility Expo and NADA Auto Show for delivery before the Dashain festival. The shutdown forced distributors to bring electric vehicles (EVs) through the Korala border, even though it incurred additional costs and delays.

China began constructing the Bailey bridge soon after the July floods. Nepali customs officials expect the bridge and the trade route to be ready for operation around the Tihar festival, which begins next week.

Meanwhile, officials say multiple sections of the Pasang Lhamu Highway—the only road link to the Rasuwagadhi border point—that were disrupted by floods and landslides will be operational by the time the bridge construction is completed. Although smaller vehicles are now plying the route, the Syafrubesi–Rasuwagadhi section remains closed to larger trucks.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 44. 25 points to close at 2, 547. 60 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 5. 14 points to close at 444. 54 points.

A total of 9,904,874-unit shares of 330 companies were traded for Rs 4. 97 billion.

Meanwhile, Nepal Micro Insurance Company Limited (NMIC), Nepal Reinsurance Company Limited (NRIC) and Crest Micro Life Insurance Limited were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. 

Likewise, Corporate Development Bank Limited (CORBL)was the top loser as its price fell by 5. 26 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 44 trillion.

Seventy-five companies across various sectors are awaiting the approval of the Securities Board of Nepal (Sebon) to go public. These companies are awaiting the stock market regulator’s nod to float 375.4m units of ordinary shares to raise Rs 54.15bn from the market.

Hydropower sector companies account for nearly half of the pending applications. According to data provided by the Sebon, 37 hydropower companies have applied to raise around Rs 18.26bn from the market by floating 178.5m units of ordinary shares.

IPO proposals of hydropower companies have stalled at the Sebon for a long time amid conflicting instructions and regulatory concerns. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the House of Representatives had earlier directed Sebon to reject IPO applications from companies with a net worth below Rs 90 per share. The Finance Committee later advised the stock market regulator not to consider net worth as the sole basis for approval. Concerns over project viability further delayed the process. The Sebon leadership was also accused of mobilizing middlemen to collect kickbacks from hydropower promoters for IPO approval.   

In terms of the amount to be raised, however, the Manufacturing & Processing sector leads the chart. Companies under this category plan are awaiting the regulator's nod to float 126.9m units of ordinary shares worth approximately Rs 27.04bn.

Similarly, three companies from the Hotels & Tourism sector are preparing to raise Rs 1.42bn through 14.2m units of shares. Meanwhile, four investment companies have applied to float 18.6m shares worth Rs 3.14bn to the general public.

Three microinsurance companies—Protective Microinsurance, Star Microinsurance and Liberty Micro Life Insurance—have also sought Sebon’s nod to issue 6.75m units of shares to raise Rs 675m.

Out of seven microinsurance companies licensed by the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA) , four three have already issued their ordinary shares to the general public.

Additionally, 10 companies from other sectors have submitted proposals to issue 27.6m shares worth Rs 3.43bn. Once approved, the upcoming listings are expected to inject fresh momentum into the market market, particularly in energy and manufacturing sectors that continue to draw strong investor interest.