Good afternoon friends. Picking up where we left off this morning, there’s not much to report as far as the local business news cycle is concerned, as the presidential election remains the central focus.

THE BIG STORY TODAY

It’s day two of voting in the presidential elections:Voters nationwide are casting their ballots for one of four presidential hopefuls: Incumbent President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Al Wafd Party’s Abdel Sanad Yamama, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party’s Farid Zahran, and the Republican People Party’s Hazem Omar.

Want to get out and vote? Find your nearest polling station by entering your national ID number on the National Elections Authority website. You can also text your national ID number to 5151 or call the same number to find your polling station and receive your voting number. Voting is open from 9am through 9pm, today and tomorrow.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD

Interest rate chatter kept the international business press busy this afternoon: Global central banks (US Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and the Bank of England) are trying to settle investor expectations for lower interest rates as they seek evidence of weakening labor markets first, says the Financial Times. Investors speculated that policymakers will ease up on monetary policy and lower borrowing costs earlier than predicted in the new year amidst falling inflation and after what Bloomberg called the “most aggressive interest-rate hiking cycle in four decades.” But recent Fed figures are causing some investors to backtrack on their calls, pushing their expectations of a rate cut to May from March. Meanwhile, with bond yields plummeting and the Federal Reserve’s tightening cycle coming to an end, investors are buying up as many stocks, bonds, crypto, and gold as they can, according to the Wall Street Journal.

COME WORK FOR OUR ADVISORY ARM-Enterprise Advisory (formerly known as Inktank Communications) is looking for smart, talented people to help us tell the stories of exciting companies. Enterprise Advisory is the region’s leading investor relations advisory company and works on investor and strategic communications issues that take you deep inside the c-suite. Our clients are in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and beyond. Egyptian and foreign nationals alike are welcome to apply, but native-level verbal and written English fluency is a must.

WHO YOU ARE- We're looking for gifted storytellers with a minimum of four years of work experience in investor relations, finance, banking, economics, or a related field to develop cutting-edge products and maintain relationships with a portfolio of clients. Candidates should have a bachelor's degree or higher in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, or a related discipline. We're looking for someone whose passion for storytelling is matched with strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to interpret and present financial data — with a keen eye for details and accuracy.

INTERESTED IN APPLYING? To apply for the position, drop us a line at jobs@enterprisemea.com and mention “Enterprise Advisory” in your subject line. Please send a solid cover letter telling us a bit about who you are and why you’re a good fit for our team. We want to see your CV, but the most important thing is a cover letter that makes us want to pick up the phone and give you a call.

** CATCH UP QUICK on the top stories from today’s EnterpriseAM:

  • A second month of encouraging inflation figures:Inflation eased for the second consecutive month in November to reach its lowest level in six months on the back of slowing food price increases.
  • Do business in FX? You won’t be able to settle your VAT dues in EGP, after all: All businesses pricing goods and services in foreign currency will now have to settle their VAT dues in FX after the Finance Ministry scrapped a rule that would have allowed them to pay in EGP.
  • State-owned National Investment Bank (NIB) wants to sell its 10% stake in the EGX-listed cement producer Misr Cement Qena to a private-sector investor.

HELP GAZA-

Want to support relief efforts in Gaza, but don’t know how? We’ve got you. More than 1 mn people in Gaza have been thrown from their homes and every human being there lacks access to food, water, and fuel amid the most intense bombardment any population has endured this century.

The folks at Talabat are processing donations for a range of Gaza relief appeals by charities including the Egyptian Food Bank and Misr El Kheir. Pay in EGP using your credit card.

Or check out our list of charities to which you can make direct donations via bank deposit and / or Fawry.

?️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- The mercury is expected to rise to a high of 21°C and drop to a cooler 14°C in the evening, tells us our favorite weather app.

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