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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TONIGHT

November’s PMI readings show non-oil private sector activity contract for third consecutive month

Good afternoon folks, and a happy Tuesday to you. Today we have all the latest on Egypt’s fresh PMI reading, Jaguar’s new EV concept, and the best content to wind down to after a busy work day.

THE BIG STORY TODAY

Egypt’s non-oil private sector activity continued to contract in November, albeit at a softer pace: Egypt’s non-oil private sector activity in November edged up to 49.2 from 49.0 last month, marking sector activity’s third consecutive month of contraction, according to S&P Global’s latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) report (pdf). The decline came as subdued customer demand and weaker new order inflows continued to weigh on business activity, though the contraction eased to its mildest pace in three months.

Good news on the inflation front: November’s reading saw input cost and output charge inflation drop to its lowest levels in four months, “suggesting downward potential to consumer price inflation in the coming months," senior S&P Global economist David Owen said.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD

Amid a busy day in the int’l presses, China has thrown down the gauntlet in the latest development in the US-China trade war: The Chinese government announced earlier today that it is banning exports of several dual-use minerals and metals to the US in response to Washington’s announcement of tighter semiconductor export controls yesterday. The countermeasures will place the 98% of world gallium and germanium produced by China beyond the reach of US companies — spelling potential trouble for the US’ semiconductor, battery, and military hardware manufacturing industries. (Financial Times | Reuters)

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

New gov’t committee aims to make Egypt a startup hub: The recently formed Entrepreneurship Ministerial Committee has announced ambitious plans to increase investments in Egypt’s startups tenfold to USD 5 bn in the coming period.
Fresh details on auto feeder industry localization plans: The Industry Ministry revealed new information on the government’s plans to localize automotive feeder industries during yesterday’s ministerial group for industrial development meeting.
Government arrears owed to Egypt’s pharma companies have climbed to EGP 50 bn, Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce’s pharma division head Ali Auf told EnterpriseAM.

☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- We’re looking forward to another sunny morning tomorrow with a high of 23°C, and clear night skies that will dip to 13°C, according to our favorite weather app.

Jaguar enters its EV era

Jaguar has revealed its first EV as the automaker enters its electric era. The news of the reveal — which follows an unsanctioned leak on Monday — comes after the company’s controversial rebranding and car-less campaign video invited backlash for supposedly erasing the brand identity that has been built over the company’s 90-year history.

(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to external sources.)

The brand’s new car, named Type 00, is unlike anything we’ve seen from Jaguar or any other car brand — staying true to founder Sir William Lyons’ instruction to “be the copy of nothing.” The two “0”s represent the zero tailpipe emissions that will come as Jaguar makes the transition to producing solely EVs, with the additional “0” signifying the brand’s comprehensive reset. With a truck-like nose, long hood, and shallow glasshouse, chief creative officer for Jaguar Land Rover Gerry McGovern has said that the new car model showcases Jaguar’s “fearless creativity.”

The company has a new target audience. The new customer base will be more creative, urban, affluent, and probably younger than those Jaguar previously targeted, according to managing director Rawdon Glover. He believes that the brand “needs to build a relationship with almost an entirely new client base.”

But don’t write that check just yet. The Type 00 is merely a “design vision concept” and will not be up for sale. The first actual car that customers will be able to purchase will be a four-door grand tourer with a range of 770 km that will likely resemble the Type 00’s exterior style. It’s expected to cost around GBP 100k — almost double today’s GBP 55k average price for a Jaguar. But it seems like we’ll have to wait till summer 2026 to see its reveal, along with the two SUVs that are set to follow.

An ‘80s crime drama set in Barcelona

? This heist drama is inspired by history — with a hint of fictionalized storytelling. Set in 1981 amid the politically charged context of a newly democratizing Spain, Bank Under Siege follows a siege at Barcelona’s Central Bank that sees a young journalist race to uncover the truth about the attack.

(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to external sources.)

The five-episode miniseries jumps into the action immediately. The story begins with the armed robbers storming the bank, led by José (Miguel Herrán). The attackers claim that their mission is politically motivated and demand the release of conspirators involved in a failed coup attempt — based on the 1981 coup attempt launched by Francoist forces against Spain’s fragile democratic government. Things take a turn, however, when they see piles of money lying in the vault.

The show doesn’t just follow the robbers. We’re also introduced to Maider (Maria Pedraza), a journalist navigating her first major assignment, and her editor, Isabel (Patricia Vico). Their dynamic captures the challenges faced by women in male-dominated workplaces during the era.

The show has a well-constructed narrative backed up by solid performances. It avoids sensationalism and opts for a more character-driven approach, making it a compelling watch.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can watch the series on Netflix or catch the trailer on Youtube (runtime: 1:44).

Round 14 of EPL + Barca’s battle for balance

⚽ Welcome to Round 14 of the English Premier League. Ipswich Town and Crystal Palace will inaugurate this round at 9:30pm, followed by West Ham and Leicester City at 10:15pm.

Barcelona’s battle to restore balance: The Blaugrana are meeting Real Mallorca away from home tonight at 8pm as part of the 19th round of La Liga. If you thought the match was scheduled way down the line, you’re not wrong — the match was advanced due to both teams as well as Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao participating in the Supercopa de España next January.

Barcelona has uncharacteristically failed to secure a victory for the past three matches, narrowing the gap between them and Madrid down to one point. With Madrid having a postponed match under their sleeves, a small falter from the Blaugrana will have dire consequences on their standing.

The European league matches to keep an eye on are:

Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen — DFB-Pokal (9:45pm)
Milan vs. Sassuolo — La Liga (10pm)

Poke fun at our proverbs

MARK YOUR CALENDAR-

? Have a laugh at our most beloved Egyptian proverbs. The Proverbs and Stories Play, directed by Tamer Elgazzar, will offer a comedic take on Egyptian proverbs, their origin, and how they’re used. Attend the play on Thursday, 12 December at 7:30 pm at El Nahda Jesuit, Cairo. Tickets are available on Collard Tickets.

(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to external sources.)

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-

“Tetrat W Zekrayat” with El Haggar: Ali El Haggar will perform a unique musical evening, taking the audience through iconic film and TV theme songs. The concert will take place tonight at Theatro Arkan in Sheikh Zayed starting at 8pm. Tickets are available on TicketsMarche .

Prepare for laughs with Studio El Etnin. Ahmed Magdy and Ahmed Hassan will be live at Boom Room in Open Air Mall Madinaty tonight at 8pm. Tickets are available on Ticketsmarche.

Queue the Christmas spirit with the Jolly Jingle Fest at Santa’s Factory. The show, which features beloved Christmas songs and carols, will take place at Rawabet Art Space tomorrow at 8pm. Book your spot on Ticketsmarche.

The High Five are about to bring some laughs to El-Rehany Theater Downtown on Friday, 6 December at 8:30pm. Tickets for the show are available through Ticketsmarche.

Dance the day away at the Kloud experience. The party will take place on Friday 6 December at Royal Club Mohamed Ali starting at 2pm. The lineup includes Hey-D, Joe Aiaad, Maged, Nizo, Samaha, Sherif Rafik, and Ziad Mousa. Grab your tickets from Collard Tickets.

Calling football fanatics. Don't miss the Round of 16 live show with Mahmoud El Mahdy at Theatro Arkan Theater on Saturday, 7 December at 8pm. Tickets are available through Ticketsmarche.

HAPPENING LATER-

Tablet El Sitt band is back with some more folklore. The show will take place at Boom Room in Open Air Mall Madinaty on Wednesday, 11 December at 8pm. Tickets are available through Ticketsmarche.

Ready for a dose of nostalgia? Join Ali El Haggar in concert for Drama Songs Series at Cairo Opera House in Zamalek, where the artist recreates theme songs of the popular TV shows of the past. The performance will take place on Thursday, 12 December, at 8:00pm. You can get your tickets from Tazkarti.

Discover the future of blockchain technology at Cairo Blockchain Week. The event will take place from Sunday, 15 December to Tuesday, 17 December at Dar El Darb in the Cairo Citadel. This is an opportunity to connect with global innovators and leaders and enjoy a closing dinner at the Pyramids. Grab your tickets through All Events.

Comedian Ali Quandil brings an evening of laughter to Boom Room in Open Air Mall Madinaty, on Tuesday, 24 December at 8pm. Tickets are available through Ticketsmarche.

Sharp takes on sports and culture

?Sports, but make it deeper — that’s what Spolitics is all about. Hosted by Jemele Hill, this podcast doesn’t just talk scores and stats; it’s where sports meets race, gender, politics, and culture in fresh, sharp, and sometimes fiery conversations. It’s the kind of show that makes you think, “Why hasn’t anyone talked about this before?”

(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to external sources.)

Episode spotlight: The Politics of Investing in Women’s Sports episode dives into the recent boom in women’s sports, showing that they’re not just a good cause — they’re a solid business investment. Guests explain the numbers behind the USD bn revenue milestone, while another guest shares how he’s using tech-world lessons to disrupt the sports investment industry. Jemele also breaks down the myth that women are to blame for the lack of progress in women’s sports. Spoiler: structural barriers don’t fix themselves.

Why should you listen? Whether you’re a die-hard sports fan or just curious about how sports shape our world, this podcast has something for everyone. With every episode, you’ll laugh, learn, and probably leave with a hot take or two.

WHERE TO LISTEN- You can find the episode on iHeart Podcasts, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

What the markets are doing on 3 December 2024

The EGX30 rose 0.3% at today’s close on turnover of EGP 4.5 bn (7.5% above the 90-day average). Egyptian investors were the sole net buyers. The index is up 23.0% YTD.

In the green: Edita (+3.9%), B Investments Holding (+1.9%) and Ezz Steel (+1.8%).

In the red: Palm Hills Development (-3.6%), Juhayna (-2.4%) and Alexandria Containers and Cargo Handling (-2.3%).

ENTERPRISE ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

3 December (Tuesday): Studio El Etnin at Boom Room, Open Air Mall Madinaty.

3 December (Tuesday): Ali El Haggar Tetrat W Zekrayat concert at Theatro Arkan.

4 December (Wednesday): Jolly Jingle Fest at Santa’s Factory at Rawabet Art Space

5 December (Thursday): Muslim at Theatro Arkan.

5 December (Thursday): Abdel Halim Hafez tribute concert at the Grand Egyptian Museum.

5 December (Thursday): Tul8te at ZED park.

6 December (Friday): The High Five standup comedy at Theatro Arkan.

6 December (Friday): TriFactory PMH warm-up run at District 5.

6 December (Friday): The Kloud Experience at Royal Club Mohamed Ali

7 December (Saturday): AFP Future of Finance at Conrad Cairo Hotel & Casino.

7 December (Saturday): Marwan Pablo and Nayer Nagui concert at Grand Egyptian Museum.

7 December (Saturday): AFP Future of Finance at Conrad Cairo Hotel & Casino.

11 December (Wednesday): Tablet El Set at Boom Room, Open Air Mall Madinaty.

12 December (Thursday): Proverbs and Stories Play at El Nahda Jesuit, Cairo.

12-14 December (Thursday-Saturday): Cairo Art Book Fair at Ghurnata, El Montaza in Heliopolis.

13 December (Friday): Aura Music Festival at Lac Du Caire.

13 December (Friday): Aziz Maraka and Silawi concert at ZED Park.

14 December (Saturday): TriFactory’s The Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon at the Great Pyramids of Giza.

15-17 December (Sunday-Tuesday): Cairo Blockchain Week at Cairo Citadel.

19 December (Thursday): Bahaa Sultan and Mahmoud El Esseily concert at ElMalahy Arena.

24 December (Tuesday): Ali Quandil standup comedy at Boom Room, Open Air Mall Madinaty.

JANUARY

18 January (Saturday): Founders Live Cairo at Creativa Innovation Hub.

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November’s PMI readings show non-oil private sector activity contract for third consecutive month

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