From Investor Protection to Market Reform | Murahari Parajuli, NEPSE Spokesperson | Investor Pod EP7

What does it take to build a stronger, more transparent capital market in Nepal? In this episode of Investor Pod, Arpan Khanal, CFA, Founder & CEO of National Capital Limited, sits down with Murahari Parajuli of Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) to discuss investor protection, market development and the future of Nepal's capital market. They explore how Nepali investor behaviour compares with developed markets, whether Nepal is ready for intraday trading, short selling and derivatives, and why NEPSE needs restructuring. The conversation also covers governance, technology, disclosure standards, surveillance, institutional investors, NEPSE 30, corporate actions and settlement. At its core: how can Nepal move from a retail-driven market toward a deeper, more institutional one that protects investors and supports long-term capital formation? A candid conversation on the reforms needed to move Nepal's capital market forward. Timestamps 0:00 Intro: World Investor Week & podcast context 1:59 Guest introduction: NEPSE Spokesperson Murari Parajuli 18:11 Investor protection: What it really means 22:35 Nepali investor behavior vs global investors 27:50 Active investor numbers 30:02 Is Nepal ready for derivatives, intraday & short selling? 32:33 NEPSE milestones: 1976 to full demat (2015) 35:13 NEPSE restructuring: ownership, government influence & NSE model 41:00 NEPSE 30, index funds & moving retail investors to mutual funds/SIPs 45:20 The communication gap with policy makers 49:58 Historical data, digitization & investor education 56:57 Cybersecurity: lessons from the broker data center attack 1:00:31 Companies skipping AGMs: suspension, delisting & penalties 1:04:10 Market surveillance: pump & dump, insider trading 1:11:32 Anti-entrepreneurial mindset 1:24:03 RTA shareholder data: a serious privacy risk 1:28:37 Closing: book recommendations & advice for new investors Subscribe for weekly finance insights. Contact us at +977- 9768582009 for investment management and merchant banking services. Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are based on personal experiences, investment journeys, and case studies and do not constitute financial, investment, or professional advice, nor should they be considered recommendations to buy, sell, or hold any securities.