A new economic report shows that stock market transactions in Nepal has dropped by nearly one-third this year, although the NEPSE index and overall market value remain in a positive direction. According to the Economic Survey of fiscal year 2082/83 presented by Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle in the Parliament, secondary share market transactions reached Rs 10 kharb 28 arba 47 crore till the month of Phagun. In the same period of last fiscal year, this transaction was much higher at Rs 14 kharb 65 arba 66 crore.
The daily average transaction amount also went down to Rs 7 arba 45 crore from Rs 9 arba 83 crore of last year. Similarly, the number of shares traded fell down by 27.2 percent and the total number of transactions decreased by 29.8 percent. Even though transactions are low, the NEPSE index and market capitalization is showing good progress compared to last year. At the end of Phagun, the NEPSE index stood at 2820.45 points, which is higher than last year’s 2736.49 points.
The total market value of the stock market increased by 4.42 percent to reach Rs 47 kharb 44 arba 73 crore by end of Phagun. In last year same period, the total market value was Rs 45 kharb 43 arba 81 crore. Along with this, more people are now joining the share market. The report says that 26.2 percent of the total population now have Demat accounts, reaching 76 lakh 39 thousand in Phagun from 69 lakh 97 thousand in Ashad 2082. The number of Mero Share accounts also increased to 66 lakh 13 thousand.
More people are also starting to trade online in the secondary market. The number of investors who took online login for trading increased to 31 lakh 82 thousand 462 in this Phagun, which is a big jump from 25 lakh 49 thousand 696 investors in the same period of last year.