Trading Suspended at NEPSE After Sharp Post-Protest Selloff

Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) halted trading on Thursday as investor panic following the September 8–9 protests triggered three consecutive negative circuit breakers. The NEPSE index fell 6 percent during the day.

The first circuit breaker was activated just two minutes after market opening, when the index dropped 4 percent, resulting in a 20-minute halt. Trading briefly resumed but continued its decline, prompting a second suspension at 11:23 a.m. after a total 5 percent fall, lasting 40 minutes.

When trading restarted at 12:04 p.m., the index dropped another 1 percent, triggering a third circuit breaker and forcing a full-day suspension. The NEPSE index closed at 2,511 points, down 160 points, with total turnover reaching Rs 728.7 million.

Experts say the sharp fall highlights market instability and investor caution in the aftermath of the destructive protests, which have shaken economic confidence across Nepal.