The Nepal Stock Exchange (Nepse) fell sharply on Thursday, dropping 160.33 points. Trading was halted for the day after the index tumbled six percent to close at 2,511.91 points.

Circuit breakers were triggered three times as extreme intraday volatility rattled investors. The index fell four percent in the first two minutes after the market opened, prompting a 20-minute halt. Trading resumed at 11:22am, but a five percent drop in the first minute led to a 40-minute suspension. By 12:06pm, a six percent decline triggered the final halt.

The sudden fall reflects heightened uncertainty among investors, with many reacting to the political unrest and its potential impact on the economy.