The Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) operationalised a mock interface of its fully automated online trading system Monday as a precursor to the launching of the real thing in the next two months.

The implementation of the mock online trading indicates that the practice of posting purchase and sales orders via stockbrokers will soon become history at the country’s sole secondary market. According to Nepse, the newly launched mock interface is a scaled down version of the real live trading interface.

Currently, share investors have access to a semi-automated system where they can get the information about the trading system. However, investors must still post purchase and sales orders via their stockbrokers.

According to Nepse, it launched mock trading after carrying out third party verification of the online system developed by YCO, an Indian vendor company. YCO handed over the software to Nepse on July 17.

Nepse had a third party perform user acceptance testing (UAT) of the software to ensure the online system can perform the required tasks once it comes into full-fledged operation.

Speaking at a programme on Monday, General Manager of Nepse Chandra Singh Saud said the testing was almost complete. “After completing most of the platforms for investors and stockbrokers, we are now busy with a number of administrative and monitoring aspects related to the fully automated online trading,” he said.

According to Saud, Nepse launched mock trading to identify possible problems that could arise after investors start using it. “It is also expected to protect investors from possible hassles while posting orders after the system goes live,” he added.

Nepse’s plan to start mock trading by the first week of September was delayed after stockbrokers failed to create their data centres within the deadline. Among the 50 stockbrokers in the country, many have used data centre in cloud while a few of them are still facing problems.

Stockbrokers who are unable to operate their own data centres can use the one operated by Nepse for the time being, the bourse said. “These stockbrokers have promised to complete the necessary tasks related to the data centre and upgrade their hardware within two months. After that, we will launch the real live trading system,” Saud said.

The mock system allows investors to maintain information about 25 listed companies, YCO Project Manager Sagar Upadhyaya said. According to him, investors can have access to order placement service, trade book function and market depth service through the mock system.