Banking Khabar / Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has clarified that unnecessary panic has been created in Nepal’s stock market and urged investors not to worry. Speaking during a meeting with officials of the Economic Journalists Society Nepal (SEJON), Wagle said that fear is being spread in the market without justification and called on investors to remain calm.
He emphasized that the government has no intention of taking action against investors. However, he warned that individuals involved in unethical activities would face legal action in accordance with existing laws.
“The stock market in Nepal is more organized and transparent than many other sectors,” Wagle said. “With a paperless system, bank-based transactions, dividends directly deposited into accounts, a clear tax structure, and the ability to track buyers and sellers, the system is reliable.”He added that the government considers the stock market a model sector for digitalization. At the same time, he made it clear that any involvement in insider trading, market manipulation, or other unethical practices would be dealt with strictly under the law.
Wagle reassured investors that there is no need to panic at present and said efforts will continue to improve the stock market in the coming days. He noted that reforms would be introduced after studying the restructuring report of the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE). Referring to the election manifesto of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Wagle said that points 33 and 34 reflect the party’s liberal stance toward the stock market and encouraged investors to review them.
He also expressed optimism about the market’s future, stating that better days lie ahead. According to him, the government’s current priority is to remove Nepal from the FATF Grey List. “There is a misconception that we only talk about exiting the grey list on paper without implementation. We have now entered the phase of execution,” he said.
Wagle added that ongoing investigations into financial crimes, including money laundering, are being pursued based on solid evidence built over the years. “The government has no intention of targeting specific institutions or individuals,” he said. “We believe in an open market economy, but that does not mean a free-for-all system.”
He concluded by stating that legal action will be taken strictly in accordance with the law, and final judgments will be made by the courts, not through targeted enforcement.
