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NEPSE Market Hours and Settlement Rules: Everything Investors Should Know

Confused about NEPSE’s trading hours, market holidays, or how settlement works in Nepal’s stock market? This blog explains everything you need to know about when the market opens, when it closes, holiday schedules, and how trades are settled in NEPSE.

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Nepalytix
NEPSE Market Hours and Settlement Rules: Everything Investors Should Know

Introduction: Timing Matters in NEPSE

For any stock market investor, knowing when the market is open, when it closes, and how settlements work is crucial. In NEPSE, trading hours and rules are different from global markets like the U.S. or India.

Understanding NEPSE’s trading hours, holiday schedule, and settlement process helps investors plan trades better and avoid last-minute mistakes.

1. NEPSE Trading Hours (Regular Schedule)

  • Pre-Open Session: 10:45 AM – 10:55 AM

    • Investors can place buy/sell orders, but no trades are executed until matching begins.

  • Regular Trading Session: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

    • Continuous trading, price discovery, and order matching.

  • Closing Session: 2:55 PM – 3:00 PM

    • Last chance for trades at closing price.

👉 Unlike global markets, NEPSE does not operate in the evenings or weekends.

2. NEPSE Trading Days

  • Active Days: Sunday – Friday

  • Market Closed: Every Saturday (Nepal’s weekend)

3. NEPSE Holidays (2025 Overview)

NEPSE follows government-declared public holidays. Common closures include:

  • Dashain (Vijaya Dashami & surrounding days)

  • Tihar (Laxmi Puja, Bhai Tika)

  • Holi

  • Nepali New Year

  • Republic Day, Constitution Day, Democracy Day

  • Other government-declared special holidays

👉 The exact annual calendar is published by NEPSE every fiscal year.

4. Settlement Rules in NEPSE

NEPSE follows a T+2 settlement cycle:

  • T (Trade Date) – Day you buy/sell shares.

  • T+1 – Clearing by brokers, CDSC verifies details.

  • T+2 – Shares and funds are settled; buyer gets shares in Demat, seller receives money.

👉 Example: If you buy NABIL shares on Monday, you will receive them in your Demat by Wednesday evening.

5. Key Points for Investors

  • You cannot sell shares until they are settled in your Demat (T+2 rule).

  • Dividends and bonus shares are credited only after book closure and company approval.

  • Settlement delays can happen during holidays or system overloads.

6. Comparison with Global Markets

  • U.S. and Indian markets recently shifted to T+1 settlement.

  • Nepal still follows T+2, which may slow liquidity.

  • NEPSE is considering faster settlement in future upgrades.

7. Tips for Investors

  1. Plan Ahead for Holidays – Don’t get stuck with pending settlements during long festival breaks.

  2. Avoid Last-Minute Orders – Place trades early in the session to avoid rejection.

  3. Track Book Closures – Companies announce book closure dates for dividends/bonus; plan accordingly.

  4. Use Broker Platforms & Nepalytix – Check market holidays and trading hours in advance.

Conclusion: Know the Rules, Trade Smarter

In NEPSE, timing is everything.

  • Market runs Sunday to Friday, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

  • Settlements follow T+2 cycle.

  • Holidays are based on Nepal’s calendar, so investors must plan around Dashain, Tihar, and other breaks.

👉 By mastering trading hours and settlement rules, investors can avoid costly mistakes and trade with confidence.

NEPSE Market Hours and Settlement Rules: Everything Investors Should Know | Nepalytix