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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 79.82 points to close at 2,874.60 points on Thursday.  

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 11.83 points to close at 501. 10 points.

A total of 38,634,350-unit shares of 311 companies were traded for Rs 16. 59 billion.

Meanwhile, Trade Tower Limited (TTL) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, NIBL Stable Fund was the top loser as its price fell by 7.58 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 78 trillion.

Commercial banks have further lowered their interest rates on deposits. A study of the interest rates for the month of Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August) published by the Class ‘A’ banks shows the average interest rate on individual fixed deposits has decreased by 0.2 percentage points.

Out of the 20 commercial banks in the country, 14 have reduced their maximum deposit rates, while four have kept them unchanged and two have made a slight upward revision. Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Ltd offers the highest interest on deposits, while Prabhu Bank offers the lowest. Standard Chartered and Himalayan Bank are the only two banks that have raised their deposit rates for the next month. Machhapuchchhre, Global IME, NMB and Siddhartha Bank, on the other hand, have left their interest rates unchanged.

Nine commercial banks are offering individual fixed deposit rates of six percent or higher. Standard Chartered leads with the highest rate at 6.26 percent, followed by Everest Bank and NIC Asia at 6.25 percent each. Sanima Bank is offering 6.18 percent, while Machhapuchchhre, Prime Commercial, Global IME, and NMB Bank are each offering 6 percent

Similarly, ten banks are offering individual fixed deposit rates ranging between five percent and 5.9 percent. Siddhartha Bank and Kumari Bank are offering 5.75 percent and 5.61 percent, respectively. Rastriya Banijya Bank, Nabil Bank, Laxmi Sunrise, and Citizens Bank International each offer 5.5 percent. Agricultural Development Bank and Nepal Bank are providing 5.4 percent, while Nepal SBI and NIMB are offering 5.35 percent and 5.25 percent, respectively. At the lower end, Prabhu Bank offers the lowest individual fixed deposit rate at 4.25 percent, a drop of 1.85 percentage points.

This downward revision follows Nepal Rastra Bank’s decision to cut all rates within the interest rate corridor. Through the Monetary Policy for Fiscal Year 2025/26 unveiled last week, the central bank reduced the bank rate from 6.5 percent to six percent, the policy rate from 5 percent to 4.5 percent and the deposit collection rate (floor rate) from three percent to 2.75 percent.

With the floor rate coming down, banks have decreased their minimum savings interest rates accordingly. The minimum savings rate had previously stayed just above three percent as lowering the rates below the floor rate would have denied banks access to the central bank’s Standing Deposit Facility (SDF). Now, with the central bank itself reducing the floor rate, saving rates of banks have come down further.

Alongside savings interest rates, banks have also reduced interest rates on fixed deposits. The base rate of two commercial banks has already fallen below five percent. If rates drop further, loans are expected to become even cheaper.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 300 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 192, 300 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 192, 000 per tola on Wednesday.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 2, 265 per tola today.

The reconstruction and management of the Jhyaple River section, damaged by a landslide under the Nagdhunga–Naubise road stretch, is in its final stages. Keshav Prasad Ojha, project chief of the eastern section of the Nagdhunga–Muglin road, said that the repair work is being carried out at a cost of around Rs 20m and is expected to be completed by July.

Following heavy rainfall last year, a massive landslide occurred in Jhyaple River along the Tribhuvan Highway. The landslide killed 35 people and swept 2.7 kilometers downhill from a point 600 meters ahead of Nagdhunga. It destroyed key infrastructure including retaining walls, breastwalls, and culverts.

Ojha said that reconstruction is underway in three phases, two of which have already been completed. “The first step involved protecting a previously built wall in the river, which was in a risky state due to the landslide. We conducted micropiling work to stabilize it. The second step was installing gabion walls in the lower area, which is now nearly complete. The third step, installing soil anchors on the damaged wall, is scheduled for completion by August,” he added.

Despite progress, long-term landslide mitigation in the Jhyaple area is expected to begin only after eight months. The Nagdhunga–Muglin road sees daily traffic of about 15,000 vehicles. Its upgrade is being funded through a concessional World Bank loan and investment from the Government of Nepal.

The 12.26-kilometer Nagdhunga–Naubise stretch is the first package under this project. A contract agreement was signed with the Jiangsu-Sagun JV on 12 April 2022, and construction began on 9 June 2022. The project, originally set to complete by 30 May 2024, has seen two deadline extensions—first to 9 Feb 2025, and again to July 25. The section is currently 84 percent complete, and discussions are ongoing with consultants regarding another extension.

Ojha explained that reconstruction was delayed due to the need for a fresh study and redesign following the unexpected landslide. “We hadn’t anticipated a landslide of this scale. A separate study was launched in October, with resource allocation and modality finalized. The consultant submitted the report in May,” he said. The study, jointly conducted by ITECO and TMS, assessed soil quality and geological conditions. Based on its recommendations, the original contractor, Jiangsu-Sagun JV, was retained for landslide management under a contract variation.

However, Ojha emphasized that this current work addresses only the immediate damage. “A new contract and budget will be needed for a comprehensive landslide management plan in the Jhyaple River area,” he said.

Gyanendra Ghimire, manager of Jiangsu-Sagun JV, said that land plotting above the Jhyaple River contributed to the disaster. “Soil, stones, and debris were left uncleared, forming a landslide-prone area. The landslide occurred when silt blocked drainage and flowed directly into the river,” he explained.

Suman Ghimire, Chief District Officer of Dhading, said the landslide was likely triggered by the area’s weak geological structure. “Risk-reduction work is ongoing,” he said. The Department of Roads has taken a specialized approach for this landslide. Gabion and bamboo-crested walls have been installed to prevent further slides, while micro-piling and RCT wall construction are underway to stabilize the road above the affected area.