NEPSE Trading Time: Complete Guide to Nepal Stock Exchange Hours, Holidays & Settlement Rules (2025–2026)

 If you're a stock market investor in Nepal, one of the first things you need to know is when NEPSE is open for trading. Missing the trading window—even by a few minutes—can cost you a prime entry or exit opportunity. Whether you're a beginner just getting started or a seasoned trader looking to sharpen your timing, this guide covers everything you need to know about NEPSE trading time in 2025 and 2026.

NEPSE Trading Time: Complete Guide to Nepal Stock Exchange Hours, Holidays & Settlement Rules

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What Is NEPSE?

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) is the sole stock exchange of Nepal, headquartered in Singha Durbar Plaza, Kathmandu. Established on 13 January 1994, NEPSE is the primary platform for buying and selling listed securities, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and debentures. As of 2025, NEPSE's total market capitalization stands at over NPR 4.65 lakh crore (approximately US$34 billion), making it a significant financial institution in South Asia.

NEPSE operates through a network of registered brokers and uses an automated Trading Management System (TMS), with all securities held in dematerialized (Demat) form through CDSC (CDS and Clearing Limited).

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NEPSE Trading Hours: When Does the Market Open and Close?

Current NEPSE Trading Hours (2025–2026)

Session	Time (Nepal Time)
Pre-Open Session	10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
Regular Trading Session	11:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Market Closes	3:00 PM

NEPSE currently operates from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Nepal Standard Time (NST), which is UTC+5:45.

The pre-open session from 10:30 AM to 10:45 AM allows investors to place buy and sell orders before active trading begins. During this time, no trades are executed—it is purely an order collection window that helps determine opening prices through order matching. Once the regular session begins at 11:00 AM, continuous trading, live price discovery, and order matching all take place until the market closes at 3:00 PM.

Pro Tip: The most active and liquid period typically falls between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. If you're planning to execute a trade at a favorable price, placing orders early in the session gives you the best chance of getting filled quickly.

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NEPSE Trading Days: What Days Is the Market Open?

Current Trading Schedule

NEPSE operates Monday to Friday, five days per week.

Nepal follows a different weekly calendar compared to Western countries. The Nepali work week runs Sunday through Friday, with Saturday being the only official weekend. However, following the government's decision to adopt a two-day weekend (Saturday and Sunday), NEPSE revised its schedule to align with the new work week.

The current schedule is:

• Monday to Friday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM (regular trading)
• Saturday & Sunday: Closed (weekend)

Note: NEPSE's trading schedule has evolved over the years. The exchange previously operated Sunday to Thursday, then briefly moved to a six-day schedule (Sunday to Friday) with shorter Friday hours (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM), before settling into the current Monday–Friday structure.

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Understanding the NEPSE Trading Session Phases

Understanding the different phases within a trading day helps investors place smarter orders and avoid common mistakes.

1. Pre-Open Session (10:30 AM – 10:45 AM)

During the pre-open session, investors can submit, modify, or cancel orders through their broker or TMS platform. No actual trades are executed at this stage. Instead, NEPSE's system collects all buy and sell orders and uses them to calculate the equilibrium opening price. This session is crucial for price discovery and helps reduce extreme volatility at the opening bell.

2. Regular Trading Session (11:00 AM – 3:00 PM)

This is the core of the trading day. Once the session opens at 11:00 AM, the market enters continuous trading mode. Orders are matched in real time, prices fluctuate based on supply and demand, and investors can freely buy or sell listed securities. This three-hour window is when all actual transactions take place.

3. Market Close (3:00 PM)

At 3:00 PM sharp, the market closes, and no further trades are accepted. Orders that were not executed during the session are either cancelled or carried forward,d depending on the order type (day order vs. Good Till Cancelled).

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NEPSE Market Holidays 2025–2026

NEPSE follows Nepal's official public holiday calendar declared by the Government of Nepal. The exchange remains closed on all gazetted public holidays. Since Nepal uses the Bikram Sambat (BS) calendar for official purposes, holiday dates may vary slightly from year to year in the Gregorian calendar.

Key 2026 NEPSE Holidays

Holiday	Date (2026)
Democracy Day	February 18, 2026
Nari Dibas (Women's Day)	March 8, 2026
Nepali New Year	April 14, 2026
Constitution Day	September 19, 2026
Dashain (Estimated)	October 20, 2026

Common Annual Closures

Beyond national holidays, NEPSE typically closes for major cultural festivals such as Dashain (Nepal's biggest festival, a multi-day closure in October), Tihar/Deepawali (festival of lights in November), Nepali New Year on April 14th, Buddha Jayanti in May, and the fiscal year-end (Ashad 31), which may affect final trading days due to settlement deadlines.

Investor Alert: Always verify the holiday calendar before planning trades around major festivals. Holding unsettled positions over a long holiday break can tie up your capital and create liquidity problems.

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NEPSE Settlement Rules: T+2 Explained

Understanding how NEPSE settles trades is just as important as knowing when the market is open. NEPSE follows a T+2 settlement cycle, which works as follows:

Day	What Happens
T(Trade Date)	You buy or sell shares
T+1	Brokers clear the transaction; CDSC verifies details
T+2	Shares are credited to the buyer's Demat; funds are transferred to the seller

Practical Example

If you buy shares of NABIL Bank on a Monday, those shares will be credited to your Demat account by Wednesday evening (assuming no holidays in between). Similarly, if you sell shares on Monday, you will receive the funds in your account by Wednesday.

Important: You cannot sell shares you've just bought until they are fully settled in your Demat account (T+2). Attempting to sell unsettled shares will result in a short-sell violation.

Long festival holidays can extend effective settlement times significantly, and some global markets like the U.S. and India have already moved to T+1 settlement. NEPSE is reportedly exploring faster settlement options in the future to improve market liquidity, but T+2 remains the current standard.

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NEPSE vs. Global Markets: A Quick Comparison

Exchange	Trading Days	Trading Hours (Local Time)	Settlement
NEPSE (Nepal)	Mon–Fri	11:00 AM – 3:00 PM	T+2
BSE/NSE (India)	Mon–Fri	9:15 AM – 3:30 PM	T+1
NYSE (USA)	Mon–Fri	9:30 AM – 4:00 PM	T+1
LSE (UK)	Mon–Fri	8:00 AM – 4:30 PM	T+2

At three hours per day, NEPSE has one of the shortest trading windows among major stock exchanges. This concentrates trading volume and liquidity into a relatively tight window, which can mean faster price movements and higher volatility—especially around the opening minutes of the session.

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Tips for Trading Within NEPSE's Time Window

Making the most of NEPSE's three-hour trading session requires a bit of strategy and preparation.

Prepare before 11:00 AM. Review charts, news, and financials before the pre-open session begins. By 11:00 AM, you should already know which stocks you're interested in and at what price levels.

Use limit orders over market orders. Since NEPSE can be volatile at the open and near the close, limit orders let you control the price you pay or receive, reducing the risk of slippage.

Watch the 11:00 AM opening carefully. The first 15–30 minutes after the market opens can see significant price movements as orders placed during the pre-open session get executed. This can present both opportunities and risks.

Be cautious near 3:00 PM. As the session approaches its close, liquidity can thin out, making it harder to execute large orders without moving the price. Avoid placing large market orders in the final minutes.

Track book closure dates. Companies announce book closure dates for dividend and bonus share eligibility. Make sure you're holding the stock before the book closure date if you want to qualify.

Stay updated on holidays. Keep a copy of the NEPSE holiday calendar handy. An unexpected market closure during a planned trade can leave you with unintended exposure.

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How to Access NEPSE for Trading

To trade on NEPSE, you'll need a Demat Account (opened through CDSC or a registered depository participant), a Broker Account (NEPSE operates through 92 registered brokers across Nepal, with Remote Work Stations in over 21 cities), and TMS Access (NEPSE's online Trading Management System allows you to place orders from your broker's website or mobile platform without visiting a physical branch).

Many brokers now offer mobile apps and online portals, making it easy to monitor the market and place trades even on the go during NEPSE's 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM window.

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Frequently Asked Questions About NEPSE Trading Time

What time does NEPSE open today? NEPSE opens its regular trading session at 11:00 AM Nepal Standard Time (NST), Monday through Friday. The pre-open session begins at 11:00 AM.

What time does NEPSE close? NEPSE closes at 3:00 PM NST every trading day.

Does NEPSE trade on Saturdays and Sundays? No. NEPSE is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. The market operates Monday to Friday only.

What is the pre-open session in NEPSE? The pre-open session runs from 11:00 AM to 11:00 AM. During this period, you can place, modify, or cancel orders, but no trades are executed. The session helps determine the opening price.

How many hours does NEPSE trade per day? NEPSE's active trading window is 3 hours per day (11:00 AM to 3:00 PM), making it one of the shorter sessions among major global exchanges.

What is T+2 settlement in NEPSE? T+2 means trades are settled two business days after the transaction date. If you buy shares on Monday, they will appear in your Demat account by Wednesday.

Is NEPSE open during Dashain? No. NEPSE observes a multi-day closure during the Dashain festival, typically in October. The exact dates vary each year based on the Bikram Sambat calendar.

Can I trade NEPSE online? Yes. NEPSE supports online trading through its Trading Management System (TMS), accessible via registered broker platforms and mobile apps.

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Conclusion

Understanding NEPSE trading time is the foundation of smart investing in Nepal's stock market. To recap the key points: the market is open Monday to Friday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM NST, with a pre-open order collection phase from 11:00 AM. The exchange follows Nepal's public holiday calendar, with major closures during festivals like Dashain and Tihar. Trades settle on a T+2 cycle, meaning two business days after your transaction.

Whether you're a beginner building your first portfolio or an active trader looking to time your entries and exits, keeping these details front of mind will help you trade more effectively, avoid unnecessary mistakes, and make the most of every session NEPSE offers.

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Last updated: February 2026. Trading hours and schedules are subject to change by NEPSE or SEBON. Always verify the latest schedule at nepalstock.com before trading.