NEPSE Index
Stock trading gains growth

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 20: Despite 'serious' economic downturn the stock market has started gaining its ground. There has been a gradual increase in the NEPSE index. The index has increased by almost 11 points in the last three weeks.

According to the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) the index has experienced a growth of 2.2 points this week. The index, which was 214.94 in the opening hour on Monday, surged to 217.14 on Friday.

However, stock market analysts and economists say that there is no such reason for the present growth in the NEPSE index. It is just a short-term growth, they say.

The volume of transaction has gone up. A total of 43,969 shares amounting to Rs 150,45,419/- were traded through 803 transactions this week whereas 30,980 shares amounting to Rs 110,78,685/- were traded through 730 transactions last week.

In sector-wise transaction, the banking sector has witnessed a growth of almost 4 points. The index of commercial banks has gone up to 204.01 from 200. 42. The index of manufacturing sector has also experienced a growth. It's index has gone up to 286.55 from 283.8.

However, the hotel sector has witnessed a slight decline. Its index has scaled down to 215.46 from 216. 03. The trading sector has remained to 102.91.

The insurance and finance sectors have witnessed a decline. The index of insurance and finance has decreased to 261.10 from 263.03 and 262.57 from 267.92 respectively.

The Development Bank and other sectors have witnessed increase.

In total transaction, commercial banks have occupied 48.19 per cent, finance sector has occupied 42.66 per cent, and hotel sector has occupied 1.43 per cent. trading sector has occupied 0.9 per cent. Insurance sector has occupied 4.2 per cent. Development banks and other sectors have occupied 0.07 per cent.

According to NEPSE, there was big difference between the purchasing price and the selling price of the shares.

In terms of number of shares, Annapurna Finance Company is ahead of other companies in the trading floor. A total of 12760 block shares belonging to Annapurna Finance Company were traded in Rs 52,04,400/-

Nepal Development Bank is ahead of other companies in terms of number of transaction of shares.

The NEPSE trading floor remained open throughout the week (five days).

Among the companies having transaction for five days were Nepal Bank Ltd (Rs 285-301), Nepal Arab Bank Ltd (Rs 659-685), Standard Chartered Bank ( remained to Rs 136), Nepal SBI Bank (Rs 415-430), Bank of Kathmandu (Rs 282), SBI Bank (Rs 255-262), Lumbini Finance (Rs 166-165), Nepal Bangladesh Finance and Leasing Company (Rs 151-272) and Lumbini Finance (Rs 166-165).

The companies recording transaction for four days are – Nepal Indosuiez Bank, Nepal Bangladesh Bank (Rs 455-466), Everest Bank (423-430), Rastriya Bima Sansthan, Pokhara Finance, Siddhartha Finance and Sagarmatha Insurance.

Salt Trading Company, National Finance, Nepal Share Market and Premier Insurance posted the transaction for a day only.

Out of 56 companies 42 recorded transaction in the NEPSE trading floor.

UN calls for more fund in favour of children

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 20: One out of 12 child will die before five, almost all from preventable causes, calling for serious investment in the rights and development of children, an updated version of the UN report on children said.

The UN Secretary General’s report, ‘We the Children: Meeting the Promises of the World Summit for Children’ is considered the most comprehensive study on the condition of children. The report, which includes data from 150 countries of the world, shows that the disparities and pervasive poverty are directly related to under-investment, mainly in health, education and protection, in the young people.

The child mortality rate and other statistics contained in the report lend gravity to basic UN assertion that serious investment in the rights and development of children is essential to overcoming poverty, according to UNICEF.

More than 10.5 million children still die every year due to preventable causes. Similarly, an estimated 150 million are malnourished and more than 120 million never go to school. "Majority of them are girls," according to UNICEF.

The report points out the need for the governments to reduce poverty and make children their first priority.

The report was compiled for the May 8-10 UN General Assembly Special Session in which more than 70 world leaders and 170 national delegations will commit to a series of concrete goals on the survival, development and protection of young people. The meeting is a critical follow-up to the recent International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Mexico.

The report provides a detailed look at the progress made on behalf of children since 1990’s World Summit on Children, where governments agreed to specific goals on the development of children.

The UNICEF said the Special Session on Children comes in the middle of an important series of international conferences that are drawing a roadmap for reducing poverty worldwide.

In 1990, a goal was set to reduce infant and under-five mortality rate by one-third. More than 60 countries achieved the target but the mortality rates are still high in Africa and Asia. Another target was to reduce severe and moderate malnutrition among children below five years by half. But the underweight prevalence has declined from 28 to 32 per cent in developing countries. Increasing the rate of school enrollment of children was also envisaged.

All party mass meet to be held on May 10
Focus on alliance for democracy

Kathmandu, Apr. 20 (RSS): An all-party meeting held in the presence of the representatives of the major political parties of the country today decided to organise an all-party mass meeting at the open-air-theatre in the capital on may 10.

The meeting has laid emphasis on creating an environment of coordination, goodwill and mutual confidence in the present context when the country's national existence and the democratic rights and dignity are in danger.

The joint press communiqué issued at the end of the meeting has called for an immediate withdrawal of the so-called five day Nepal bandh, to put a quick end to activities like destruction of physical infrastructure and creating an environment for peace talks in the democratic context by ending violence, killings and anarchy.

The joint press communiqué was signed by Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, president of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Surya Bahadur Thapa, acting president of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) Badri Prasad Mandal, Amik Sherchan of the United People's Front and Narayan Man Bijukchhe of Nepal Workers and Peasants' Party (NWPP).

Meanwhile in Bhaktapur, Bhaktapur district administration office convened an all-party meeting among representatives from security bodies, political parties, transport entrepreneurs, teachers organisations as well as industrialists and businessmen to hold discussions on the contemporary issues.

During the meeting, president of Nepal Workers and Peasants' Party and MP Narayan Man Bijukchhe noted that all the political parties should launch their own programmes in order to foil Nepal bandh called by Maoists rebels.

He also called on party workers and the general people to move ahead patiently and persistently at the present moment when the country is grappling with a grave crisis.

Lawmaker Lekhanath Neupane appealed to one and all to thwart the bandh called by the so-called Maoists and remarked that all the security units should be mobilised with amply caution.

Referring to an adverse impact on national economy as a result of frequent calls of bandh and strike chairman of Bhaktapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Krishna Prasad Tamrakar urged all to oppose such protest demonstrations.

District education officer Maya Sitaula, DDC vice-president Ramesh Shrestha, Madhyapur Thimi Mayor Madan Krishna Shrestha, No. 17 ward chairman Gyan Bahadur Nyaichyai, superintendent of police Indra Lal Prajapati, Lieutenant Colonel at Surya Binayak Barrack Prakash Pokharel, Nepali Congress district president Radhe Shyam Jonchhe, CPN-UML district secretary Rajendra Man Shrestha and Bhaktapur minibus services committee Rajan Kasalaw urged all to opt for foiling Nepal bandh.

In Butwal, the all party meeting held at the district administration office, Rupandehi on Friday agreed to work together for the failure of the so call bandh called by the outlawed Maoist group.

The participants of the meeting were of the view that such bandh programmes would not only have adverse affect on the socio-economic structure of nation but also hurt the self-confidence of the people.

Emphasis was also give on the joint initiative of the intellectuals, teachers, students, industrialists, transport entrepreneurs, journalists and the general public to make the bandh unsuccessful.

Taking part in the meeting were the DDC chairman, the mayor, representatives of various political parties, business community, transport entrepreneurs and security bodies.

'Govt to take measures for welfare of orphans'

Kathmandu, Apr. 20 (RSS):Minister for women, children and social welfare Rajendra Kharel says that His Majesty's Government will do its best to uplift the poor and helpless children as well as orphans as far as allowed by the means and resources available in the country.

Inaugurating the second anniversary of Organisation for Community, Child and Environment Development (OCCED-Nepal) and a child home run under it here today, Minister Kharel observed that as the problems bogging this sector right now could not be solved through the sole effort of the government, the concerted efforts of every segment of society was indispensable to attain our common goals.

Ex-minister Marshal Julum Shakya suggested that OCCED-Nepal should expand its activity extensively to protect the rights and interests of the helpless children to maximum extent.

OCCED-Nepal chairman Ganesh Bhakta Shrestha informed the gathering that the organisation has been carrying out various activities such as free health camps, awareness drives for the conservation of environment, the programmes to empower women.

The child home has a capacity for accommodating 18 children. Of them 4 are helpless children.

During the inaugural function, it was disclosed that a child home with a capacity for accommodating about 50 children would be constructed on the land provided by Bhimdhunga VDC in its area within next two years.

Intellectuals emphasise freedom of expression

Kathmandu, Apr. 20 (RSS): A gathering of intellectuals organised here today has reached the conclusion that suggestions that are honest and free from political prejudices could be instrumental for the resolution of present problem of the country.

At an interaction programme on freedom of expression and the role of intellectuals under the present situation organised by the Progressive Writers' Association here today, intellectuals said greater problem has been created in resolving the problem of the country after curtailing of the freedom of expression under the state of emergency.

Central member of the Nepali Congress Narahari Acharya said democracy is a continuous process.

The freedom of speech is the mother of all freedoms, he said, adding that livelihood and conscience should be shared independently.

Member of the CPN-UML standing committee Modnath Prashrit said if intellectuals take the standards set by themselves for bargaining it will bring slavery and added that all the leftist groups should unite for the resolution of the Maoist problem.

There is an inter-relations between hunger and freedom, Nepal Bar Association president Sindhunath Pyakurel said, adding that it so happened after the people's movement that international freedom was heeded and the hunger was neglected thereby inviting the present problem.

Litterateur Ishwor Ballav said as the political parties who shouldered the responsibility of nation building 12 years ago have conceded that the country has been ruined, what will be the plight of the country, he asked.

Leftist intellectual Malla K. Sundar said as the writers have been the flag carriers, their expressions are also flag carriers.

At the gathering presided over by president of the Progressive Writers' Association Ninu Chapagain, various speakers including editor of Mulyankan Shyam Shrestha, litterateur Khagendra Sangraula and novelist Ms. Manjushree Thapa also expressed their views.

The gathering was organised to recount the present adverse situation of murder and violence perceiving that the situation may worsen if the intellectuals do not express their feelings.