Nepal News Evening Economic Brief – December 13, 2025
Summary
Nepal's economic update: NEPSE falters amid low investor confidence, banking profits drop, public debt rises, and the US dollar hits record high against Nepali rupee, pushing import costs higher.
Key Points
- Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) declined 0.9% last week due to weak investor confidence, with total turnover decreasing to Rs 20.99 billion.
- Banks and financial institutions reported a 14.7% drop in net profits in the first four months of FY 2025/26 amid economic slowdown and lower lending rates.
- Nepal's public debt increased to Rs 2.73 trillion with external debt accounting for over half the total, resulting in a debt-to-GDP ratio of 42.65%.
- The US dollar reached a record high of Rs 144.37 against the Nepali rupee, raising import costs and inflation pressures in Nepal.
