May 12: Nepal’s Balance of Payments (BoP) remained at a deficit of Rs 268.26 billion in the first nine months of the current fiscal year despite improvement in some other macroeconomic indicators.

According to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), BoP was in surplus of Rs 42.54 billion in the coresponding period of last fiscal year. In the US Dollar terms, the BOP remained at a deficit of 2.25 billion in the review period against a surplus of 348.1 million in the same period of the previous year, according to the central bank’s Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation Report.

According to the report, the current account remained at a deficit of Rs  512.71 billion in the review period compared to a deficit of Rs 210.51 billion in the same period of the previous year.

In the review period, capital transfer decreased 39.5 percent to Rs 7.78 billion and net foreign direct investment (FDI) increased 33.7 percent to Rs 16.51 billion. In the same period of the previous year, capital transfer and net FDI amounted to Rs 12.86 billion and Rs 12.35 billion respectively.