The government’s decision to declare Sunday a public holiday for government offices will affect stock market trading days. With the market already closed on Friday and Saturday, it will now remain closed on Sunday as well.
However, a senior official at the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) said that discussions will be held by the board regarding the possibility of opening the market on Fridays. “Since the government has announced a holiday on Sunday, the market will remain closed that day, but the board will discuss whether trading can be conducted on Friday. There is a precedent of opening the market on Friday while keeping Sunday closed,” the official said.
Previously, from May 15, 2022 (Jestha 1, 2079 BS), after the government declared both Saturday and Sunday as public holidays, NEPSE had operated the market on Fridays. At that time, the market remained closed on Saturday and Sunday but continued operating five days a week. A few weeks later, after the government reversed its decision, trading resumed on Sundays instead of Fridays.
Under the new government decision, the market will remain closed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the time being. To open the market on Fridays, a separate decision will now be required from the NEPSE board.
Government spokesperson Sasmita Pokharel stated that the Cabinet decided to declare Sunday a holiday along with Saturday due to disruptions in the supply of petroleum products.
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