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  • Is bitcoin banned in Nepal?

    Is bitcoin banned in Nepal?


    Ban of Transaction of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in Nepal.

    The central bank of Nepal, Nepal Rastra Bank (“NRB”) published a notice pursuant to Nepal Rastra Bank Act 2001 (“NRB Act”) and Foreign Exchange (Regulation) Act 1962 (“FERA”) prohibiting the usage of Bitcoin in Nepal. NRB has not recognized Bitcoins as a valid currency in Nepal.

    A few highlights on the ban:

    1. Laws of Nepal: The Nepal Rastra Bank, Nepal’s central bank, highlighted two laws in its statement banning Bitcoin and its transactions: the foreign exchange statute of 2019 BS and the Nepal Rastra Bank Act of 2058 BS. It basically means that you can’t do bitcoin transactions or use bitcoin to swap foreign or Nepali currency in Nepal because bitcoin isn’t classified as a currency by the Nepali government, therefore utilizing the internet for bitcoin transactions or exchange is unlawful.
    2. Lack of regulations: NRB and Nepal govt is unable to have proper regulation over bitcoin transactions, as it’s mostly done over internet and Nepal doesn’t yet have the technology needed to regulate it, and hence it may be banned.
    3. Use in illegal activities: Reports of bitcoin being used for money laundering or making black money into white by converting into Bitcoin, among other cases is another reason.
    4. Damage to Nepali economy: Bitcoin transactions unlike other banking transactions can’t be taxed, so there will be loss of revenue, plus if more Nepalis use bitcoins, the monetary system of Nepal may be affected, Bitcoin is also a very volatile currency with lots of ups and downs and long term it can cause severe problems. NRB is tasked with maintaining the financial stability of Nepal and maybe it felt, bitcoin was a threat.

    These are only a few of the reasons, in my opinion, why bitcoin is prohibited in Nepal. The existing Nepali laws prohibit it, and the central bank believes that bitcoin cannot be effectively regulated, that it can be used for unlawful purposes, and that it will harm the Nepali economy in the long run. The Nepalese government has recently taken tough measures against bitcoin transactions, including arresting people who were mining bitcoin or had large amounts of bitcoin, shutting down Nepal’s largest bitcoin exchange operator Bitsewa and arresting its owners, and even arresting a Nepali politician from a minor party for bitcoin trading.

  • 7 Stock Market Investing Tips

    7 Stock Market Investing Tips


    Have you decided to invest in the stock market? Consider these 7 stock market investing tips when making your investments.

    1. Have a solid comprehension of basic economic principals.

    Before you get started, you should understand basic principals and laws of economics. The stock market closely follows the law of supply and demand. For example, when there is a large demand for the stock of a certain company, the cost of its stock will increase along with the demand. However, if there are more stock available for sale than there are buyers, the unit price of that company stock will decrease.

    2. Learn about prospective companies you want to invest in.

    Do your homework before you invest in prospective companies. Read the company annual report and find out about their products, operations, services and basic business track record. This information gives you an idea of how stable the company is and whether they can deliver on their promise to offer profits to investors.

    3. Select companies with staying power.

    There are so many companies that exist in today’s stock market, selecting becomes a major decision for beginning investors. Relatively stable companies and business are owned by the government, unless there is a political revolution or crisis going on. Gasoline companies and telecommunications companies are usually profitable and stable because there is a constant demand for their services and products. While IT companies are rapidly growing in today’s stock market, there are so many of them it may be a challenge to check their profiles to exercise reasonable care before investing. Before putting your money into an IT company, verify their track record and make sure they are stable and profitable for a minimum of 10 years.

    4. Keep an eye on the news.

    Guesswork is completely ineffective when it comes to investing in the stock market. Good intuition and solid decision-making come from learning about global and local news both politically and economically. When you watch the news, make sure to keep track of the industry your company is in. Even stable companies may go bankrupt or have a major blow that will bring them down.

    5. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

    Avoid investing in just one company and spread out your stock investments to several businesses. When you have stock concentrated in just one company, you have a greater chance of losing it all. When you spread out your investments over several companies, those earning profits can cushion the ones that not not as profitable.

    6. Stockbrokers aren’t the final word.

    A stock broker is actually gambling with your money so you need to do your own homework. Dishonest brokers can take advantage of investors who do not fully comprehend how the stock market works.

    7. Greed is your enemy.

    While everyone is eager to make profits in the stock market, an investor loses their sense of reason when they are fueled by greed. A money hungry investor may forget to check on economic rumors and spontaneously decide to sell or buy with the thought of making major profits and then lose it all.

    Putting your money in the stock market can of course be risky, but the above stock market investing tips should help point you in the right direction.

  • Becoming an Investor in Nepal

    Becoming an Investor in Nepal


    Before we get into how to become an investor in Nepal, it’s important to understand who an investor is. An investor is someone who puts money into something with the hope of profiting in the future. A return is the benefit derived from such an investment. Investors are always on the lookout for high-yielding investment opportunities.

    What distinguishes an investor from others?

    Based on a book written by Robert Kiyosaki Rich Dad Poor Dad, people can be divided into four distinct categories in terms of generating income. They are:

    1. Employee (Salary-based) are those who work for others in order to meet their needs. They are paid at the end of the month for their work. Job holders are included in this category. Employees benefit from security because they know they will be paid at the end of the month. The main disadvantage of being an employee is the lack of freedom.

    2. Self-employed are individuals who work for themselves. They have more freedom than salaried employees, but they must work like salaried employees to meet their demands.

    3. Businessmen are the owners of the company Business owners hire others to work for them. They create products and services in order to make money.

    4. Investors invest in businesses and stocks for profit.

    According to the book, in order to become wealthy, you must be either a businessman or an investor, or both.

    Investing characteristics

    Not all of your money can be considered an investment. There are a few factors that distinguish between spending and investing. The following are the two most important characteristics that every investor should possess:

    1. Safety of principal

    The principal is your machine, which can print money for you. It is in your best interest to keep your machine in good working order. When you lose your principal, you can’t make money off of it. As a result, the safety of the principal should be your top priority.

    2. Adequate return

    When you put your money into a good business, you get something in return. Your return can take the form of cash, shares, or stocks. What you should remember is that your principal earns you some level of return. You should not expect a return on your investment that is exponential or even out of the realm of possibility. Investing with a non-realistic expectation of return is gambling. Never put your principal at risk. It is all you have.

    Benefits of being an investor

    1. Beating inflation

    Inflation is a term used to describe the gradual decline in the purchasing power of money. A popular saying goes, “A dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow.” As an investor, you have the ability to outperform inflation and keep your money’s value constant. You should always keep an eye on inflation and strive to outperform it. Your investment return should always be greater than your country’s inflation rate.

    2. Own businesses of different types

    It is yet another advantage of being an investor. You can own as many and as varied businesses as you want. What you should have are some investing principles that you can use before you start investing. After you’ve established your investing principle, the world is yours to explore.

    A popular investing field in Nepal

    There are three main popular fields of investing in Nepal. They are:

    Land and Real estate

    Real estate is and has always been the best investment opportunity. Real estate investment generates income from two sources: renting and selling real estate. It can be both active and passive investment. You can actively buy and sell properties, or you can simply invest in real estate and let time do the work of calculating your income. You can always expect your property’s value to rise over time. In the meantime, you can use the money you earn from renting to cover your day-to-day expenses.

    Interest yielding deposits

    Banks in Nepal offer competitive interest rates on fixed deposit savings. You can protect your principal by using fixed-deposit schemes offered by commercial banks or development banks in Nepal. While cooperative companies in Nepal have high rates of return, they have a bad reputation for fraud or scams. It is not a good idea to put all of your money in cooperatives.

    In Nepal, there is also peer-to-peer lending. It pays a higher interest rate on your money than institutions, but it also carries a higher risk.

    Interest-bearing deposits are one of the best passive income ideas in Nepal, regardless of where you choose to invest.

    Nepal Stock Exchange

    Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) is the country’s sole stock exchange. If you are new to this, you can read the NEPSE beginner’s guide. Investing in stocks provides you with two significant benefits. You can be a shareholder in any company you want, and you will receive an annual return. Alternatively, you can sell your stocks if the price rises. Stock investing, like real estate investing, allows you to be either an active trader or a passive investor. Stock investing can begin with as little as 100 rupees. Stocks could be the next best small business in Nepal for you.

    Furthermore, the best investment you can make is in yourself. Always seek to broaden your knowledge. Read books, websites, and news to stay current. One thing that all of the best investors have in common is that they are voracious readers. As the saying goes, the more you learn, the more you earn.

    Lastly…

    It is not easy to become an investor. To become a good investor in Nepal and other countries, a certain set of principles and hard work are required. However, it is not as difficult as learning rocket science. Anyone can become a good investor with careful planning and dedication. There are a few things you should never forget and a few things you should never forget. Best wishes for your investment.

  • Is cryptocurrency legal in Nepal?

    Is cryptocurrency legal in Nepal?


    So far, cryptocurrencies are illegal in a few countries, whereas the rest of the world either sees it as fitting to utilise these ‘monies’, or keeps them in a grey area of financial law. Similarly, though most countries in the world do not criminalise cryptocurrencies, they have yet to define their usage as monies or commodities, thus making varied classifications all over the world.

    Is cryptocurrency legal in Nepal? 5

    Nepal Rastra Bank has already made it clear in its notice dated August 13, 2017, that all transactions related to or regarding Bitcoins are illegal. But it allied Bitcoins to “Foreign Exchanges”, though cryptocurrencies have no foreign central authority to regulate them. This is where the confusion is. Bitcoin is a decentralised digital currency that is traded from one individual to the other, not through banks. It has no issuing or regulating country, and these bitcoins are converted into US dollars simply because dollars are used as an international exchange rate.

  • How Does The Stock Market Work?

    How Does The Stock Market Work?


    How does the stock market work? In a nutshell, the stock market is a market place for business people. Goods are sold to the public in a public market. However, in the stock market, the public is sold share. Shares are the form in which company stock is sold. When a person purchases more shares in a company, they have a higher ownership in that company.

    In the stock market, there is the primary market and the secondary market. In the primary market, companies sell shares to investors to raise financing for their operating expenses. In the secondary market, investors buy and sell shares in companies to other investors. Constantly changing market conditions are the basis of those buy and sell decisions.

    A stock market operates much like an auction house, with a systematic way of buying and selling. The system in the stock market involves a great deal of bustling activity. Often there are people running around frantically, shouting and gesturing at one another.

    The purchase and sale of stock starts at various places. A broker is contacted if a person wants to buy stocks in a certain company. The broker will take the investor’s money to the stock exchange to coordinate with a floor broker.

    In most cases, the floor broker works for the company selling stock. Right on the stock exchange floor, brokers buy the desired stock for the investor. Once the deal is made, it is communicated to a broker and the investor then becomes a stockholder of that particular company.

    Investors may decide to sell their stock. Usually investors want to sell their stock when the price per share increases so they can realize a profit on their investment. For example, a person may purchase 100 shares at the price of $25 per share. When the price increases to $35 per share, the person can sell the 100 shares and make a profit of $1,000.

    The driving force behind the stock market is the basic economic principal of supply and demand. The number of stocks open to the public is the supply. The number of shares that investors what to purchase affects the demand of the stock in a certain company.

    The constant change in the cost of stock is a result of conditions in other markets. For example, if people feel that the economy is growing they are apt to purchase more stocks. However, when the economy is in a decline, the majority of investors tend to sell off their stocks. On the flip side, some investors use this time to buy because the stock prices are usually at a discount.

    There are quite a few business people who make long term investments in the stock market. In some situations, stocks go down in value and a stockholder loses money. There is no guaranteed profit when investing in the stock market. Thus, when a person is flexible and able to handle the constant changes of the stock exchange they are more likely to experience a profit.

    So this is how the stock market works. In the end, patience, education and experience usually equals greater long term success.

  • The 4 Potential Problems With Variable Annuities

    The 4 Potential Problems With Variable Annuities


    One of the riskiest ventures is investing your money in the stock market. But along with the extreme risk involved, is also has the potential to make you a lot of money. In fact, investing in the stock market can turn out to be one of the most profitable business decisions you’ll ever make if done right.

    With so many variables to consider, it is expected that you may have hesitancy to risk your hard-earned cash on a speculative venture in the stock market. The best course of action is to hire a reputable stockbroker to handle your stocks in the beginning. A trained stockbroker can give you dependable stock tips and solid professional advice.

    Another good idea is to discuss stocks with an associate or friend with a bit of experience investing in the market themselves. Talking with educated friends and acquaintances can be a good way to get stock advice and knowledge for free.

    A well-known stock move is investing in variable annuities using the premium of your insurance. Variable annuities are actually insurance contracts that allow you to invest your premium in mutual fund type investments. While this may seem like a good idea, when you review it more closely, it might be a poor investment.

    The following are 4 potential problems with annuities:

    1. Early withdrawal penalties can cost you a double penalty. When you withdraw your profits, you will be penalized because insurance plans are designed for retirement. When you take money from your premium, it costs you in penalties to the government and to the insurance company itself.
    2. The death benefit affects the people you leave behind. If the stocks you hold are down when you die, your beneficiaries receive as much of the investments as you put in. If stocks are up when you die, they are taxed as regular income.
    3. Smaller taxes are paid on ordinary investments in mutual funds and stocks which qualify for low capital gains treatment. The gains from investing in premiums, however, are taxed immediately upon withdrawal.
    4. When you buy annuities with insurance features, they are actually more costly than regular mutual funds. When an annuity has more insurance features, there are annual fees heaped on top of it. The result is a loss of profits for you.

    Another thing to keep in mind is that timing is a key element to successful stock investing. There are specific times that are good to invest and other times that are poor. During times of hardship or national duress, the prices of stocks may be driven down to a discounted rate, but there is no reassurance that such stocks will recover to realize a significant profit. Educating yourself on the company is key in this situation.

    The bottom line with regards to investing in the stock market is diversification. The best decision is to diversify where and when you invest your money so you can always realize some type of profit to offset potential losses.

    And you should always hire a reputable finance professional to help guide you through the stock market.

  • Cryptocurrency prices are rising, with Ripple rising by 18%.

    Cryptocurrency prices are rising, with Ripple rising by 18%.


    Since Tuesday morning, the cryptocurrency market, which had been dropping for more than two weeks, has started rising. As a result, the values of the market’s leading cryptocurrencies have surged dramatically in the last 24 hours.

    According to Crypto.com, the price of Bitcoin has gained 8.24 percent in the previous 24 hours to USD 37,304, while Ethereum is trading at $2,707. In the last 24 hours, Ethereum alone has increased by 16.60 percent.

    Cardano rose 12.74 percent to 1.76, Binance Coin rose 15.02 percent to 358, Ripple rose 19.36 percent to 1.07, and Polkadot rose 18.44 percent to 23.11.

    Cryptocurrency is banned in Nepal, despite being recognized as a digital money in Europe, the United States, China, and India. However, in the lack of a cryptocurrency regulation in Nepal, the Nepal Rastra Bank has published a statement stating that only Bitcoin transactions are prohibited.

  • The Use of Stock Investment Tools

    The Use of Stock Investment Tools


    In days past, stock market information was limited and often buyers depended on stockbrokers to try to get the facts about investments. Today there are a variety of stock investment tools to assist modern investors and maximize the amount of information they can find about potential investments and trading activities.

    The widespread use of the Internet puts a wealth of information at your fingertips right away. The Internet has facts about many publicly listed companies in the United States. Certain websites provide free research information, which may be rather general in nature but still useful to beginners. Other companies publish in-depth research reports outlining the activities of listed companies. These detailed reports may only be offered through a subscription, which may be an expensive choice for retail based investors. Based on the quality of the research provided about the company, such detailed reports may wind up costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

    For simple background facts, stock investors can peruse news articles, analyst reviews and research reports intended to supply fundamental company information. This basic information can come from analyzing previously published financial reports or catching up on current news events regarding the company’s activities. This fundamental research can be a place to start to obtain more information so investors can adequately analyze the data to make educated investment decisions.

    Investors can also take advantage of a variety of stock investment tools that offer management or raw data including current stock quotes, index performances or historical price data. Such tools may be purchased from a software company and then installed in computers. These tools assist in gathering, processing and analyzing raw data so the information is more useful to the investor.

    For example, an investor can take raw data of the historical closing prices of certain companies and run it through investment software to find out additional information such as the volume of stocks traded on a particular company for a said period of time or the historical price trend of one company compared to an index of other companies. These stock investment tools generate reports that assist investors in developing more effective trading strategies from the raw data they originally had.

    Certain stock investment tools purchased from various software companies may cost hundreds of dollars. This type of pricey investment may not be practical for small scale investors looking to make a profit right away. Individual or beginning investors can take advantage of analysis tools on the Internet made available from stock market companies for free to their clients. These tools are also made available for free to online investment clients to help them develop their trading strategies to try to achieve profits.

    Efficient stock investment tools, research products and information are readily accessible on the Internet for your convenience. However, it still requires data gathering, interpretation of analysis and careful planning to ensure successful trading. By using some online tools and careful analysis of the data, investors can develop viable trades for long term investment growth.