Gold price ups

KATHMANDU: Gold was traded at Rs 27,100 per tola (11.664 gram) on Sunday, the first day of trading in the domestic market. The weak Nepali rupee and fluctuating international market pushed the price of gold to the same record this Sunday on par with last Sunday. The precious yellow metal was traded at Rs 23,235 per 10 gram while silver also saw a record price of Rs 328 per 19 gram in the domestic market on Sunday. — HNS

NIBL’s 26th branch

KATHMANDU: Nepal Investment Bank Ltd (NIBL) opened its 26th branch in Palpa on Sunday. The branch will be linked through ABBS (Any branch Banking Services) to all other 25 branches. Key services provided include deposit and lending, foreign exchange, retail banking, import, export - letter of credit, guarantees and remittance. NIBL plans to have 50 branches in the country within two years. Total deposits of the bank as of Poush-end 2065 stood at Rs 4,1070 million and total loans and advances at Rs 3,2600 million. NPA is well within control at 1.12 per cent, said the bank that has issued a total number of 1,79,670 Visa debit/credit cards to its customers and earned Rs Rs 718 million operating profit by the end of Poush 2065. — HNS

RBB evalution meet

KATHMANDU: Rastriya Banijya bank (RBB) held a two-day evaluation meet of 23 branches in the Pokhara region. The bank has 12 ATMs and 107 computerised branches, said deputy general manager Krishna Prasad Sharma. RBB plans to increase its branches to 150. Of the 23 branches in Pokhara region, only 16 have earned profit. — HNS

Fish farming popular

DADELDHURA: Villagers in Alital VDC, Dharapani, of Dadeldhura have been making good money from fish farming. Facing difficulties in earning from their traditional agricultural products, they turned to fish farming recently. The village has 35 households and each family earns around Rs 30,000 to Rs 1,50,000 a year, said Tara Singh Bohara, a farmer. They began the venture after they were given training and financial support by several government and non-government organisations in the district. Dharapani villagers also make good money from banana and honey farming. Alital, a village home to honey and banana, produces around 50 quintals of honey annually, according to the District Agricultural Development Office. — RSS