Banque Misr and NBE reportedly set for managerial shake up as El Etreby and Okasha swap positions

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

El Etreby and Okasha reportedly set to swap positions in managerial shakeup of Egyptian state banks

Good morning, friends. Welcome to the first day of both a new week and month. September looks set to be off to a busy start when it comes to local business and economy news, with the Central Bank set to decide on interest rates, a hotly awaited health check for non-oil private sector, high-level trade delegations touching down in Egypt, and more all happening just this week.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Banque Misr and NBE reportedly set for managerial shake up as El Etreby and Okasha swap positions: Banque Misr CEO Mohamed El Etreby is expected to become the next CEO of the National Bank of Egypt in a swap that will see current NBE president Hisham Okasha take El Etreby’s place at Banque Misr, according to a banking sector source that spoke to Enterprise. The move will also see former tourism minister and CIB CEO for retail banking Ahmed Issa appointed vice president of Banque Misr and former EBRD Vice President and CFO Soha El Turky join the NBE as vice president, according to our source.

#2- Food security concerns: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi reportedly gave the order for last month’s huge wheat buy following concerns over the country’s food security, Reuters reports citing three unnamed government sources. An intelligence briefing raised concerns over our food security in light of escalating regional tension.

Another layer to the story: The government will continue to capitalize on lower commodity prices as long as it has the space to store the imported quantities, Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly said during his weekly presser last week, adding that we currently have a six-month supply of strategic wheat reserves.

ICYMI- State grains buyer GASC last month purchased 280k tons of wheat in a tender that aimed to secure some 3.8 mn tons, locking in just c. 7% of its target. The tender was launched to capitalize on a dip in wheat prices, seeking to procure nearly a third of the country’s yearly requirement of the grain.

#3- An energy corridor between Cyprus and Egypt? An energy corridor connecting Egypt and Cyprus that would carry natural gas and renewable energy was discussed by Oil Minister Karim Badawi and his Cypriot counterpart Giorgos Papanastasiou. The two sides discussed sending Cypriot natural gas to Egypt to be liquified and exported as LNG to global markets.

HAPPENING TODAY-

Our new digital platform for industrial investment launches today: The Trade and Industry Ministry has launched a new online platform showcasing industrial investment offerings in partnership with state-owned fintech player E-finance, the ministry announced in a statement yesterday. The new digital platform allows potential investors to view a map of possible investment plots, submit applications and other necessary documents, and check the status of their applications. The ministry plans to add additional features in the future, including an electronic vault for documents and 24-hour technical support.

The platform is off to a quick start: The platform’s first offering — slated to run from 1-8 September — will include 1.1k plots of land for industrial developments spanning 8.5 mn square meters across 14 governorates. Results will be announced two weeks after applications close, according to the statement.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK-

#1- Could we finally see non-oil private sector back in growth territory? S&P Global will publish Egypt’s PMI figures for August on Tuesday measuring the country’s non-oil private sector activity. Last month saw business activity hit its second highest level since August 2021.

Also releasing PMI data on Tuesday: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar. The UAE and Lebanon will follow on Wednesday, 5 September.

#2- It’s interest rate week: The Central Bank of Egypt’s Monetary Policy Committee is meeting this Thursday to review rates. The bank left interest rates unchanged during its last meeting in July citing its commitment to sustaining the current trajectory of inflation moderation.

Remember: The committee delivered a jumbo 600 bps rate hike following a surprise monetary policy meeting in March, which coincided with the float of the EGP and the securing of an expanded package from the IMF. The CBE has left interest rates unchanged since and most analysts expect the central bank to keep rates steady for now and begin cutting rates in late 2024 or early 2025.

#3- More Indian investments incoming? Representatives from ten Indian tech companies — operating in the fintech, banking solutions, medical services, consulting, and data analysis sectors — will be landing in Cairo tomorrow for a three-day visit where they will meet Egyptian officials to look into future cooperation, A l M al reports. During their time here, they will also participate in the Seamless North Africa event.

#4- Explore the future of digital commerce tomorrow at Seamless North Africa. The two-day event will be held at the Egypt International Exhibition Center from 2-3 September under the theme The Future of Digital Commerce Across North Africa. The event brings together mechants, enterprises, and SMEs in the e-commerce space as well as players in the fintech, banking, and retail sectors “to drive forward the future of digital commerce.” Take a look at the schedule here and register to attend here.

#5- The US-Egypt Joint Economic Committee will be convening on 4-5 September in Washington to talk all things partnership between the two countries’ private sectors, boosting trade, bilateral investment, and following up on the outcomes of the first meeting of the committee.

RED SEA WATCH-

Salvage crews to begin towing ablaze tanker following oil spill fears: Tugboats will begin towing an oil tanker carrying 1mn barrels of crude oil that was struck by Yemen’s Houthis last month, Reuters reports, citing Houthi Foreign Minister Jamel Amer. The armed group greenlit the salvage operation last Wednesday over fears that the damaged tanker could leak 150k tons of crude oil into the Red Sea.

But don’t take the Houthis greenlighting the salvage operation as a sign they’re changing their approach: The group announced an attack yesterday on the MV Groton container vessel crossing the Gulf of Aden for the second time, Reuters reports. The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that two missiles had struck near the ship on Friday and that no damage to the ship or injuries to the crew were reported.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Kouchouk to speak at AmCham next week: Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk will be speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon on Tuesday, 10 September from 1-4 pm at Cairo’s Nile Ritz Carlton. Register to attend here.

Check out our full calendar on the web for a comprehensive listing of upcoming news events, national holidays and news triggers.

PSA-

WEATHER- The weather is continuing to cool in Cairo today as we say goodbye to the year’s hottest months, with a high of 34°C and a low of 25°C, according to our favorite weather app.

It’s much the same story in Alexandria and along the North Coast, with a high of 32°C and a low of 23°C.

** DID YOU KNOW that we now cover Saudi Arabia and the UAE?

** Were you forwarded this email? Tap or click here to get your own copy delivered every weekday before 7am Cairo time — without charge.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

As is often the case on Sundays, there’s no one story dominating the (digital) front pages of the int’l business press, with the press’ obligatory updates on the seemingly never-ending US presidential election competing for space with tech oligarch Musk’s feud with the Brazilian government and depressingly familiar reports of horrors from Israel’s nearly year-old war on Gaza.

OVER IN US ELECTION NEWS- Things are looking increasingly up for the Democrats post-Biden, with Democratic presidential hopeful Kamala Harris has gained an edge of around 2 percentage points on Republican candidate Donald Trump among likely voters in seven key US swing states, according to a Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll. Harris is tied with or beating Trump in all seven states and has virtually erased the lead Trump enjoyed over Joe Biden prior to ending his bid for the Democratic Party’s nomination. Meanwhile, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll has found Harris leading Trump among registered voters nationwide by a margin of 4 percentage points, up from the 1 percentage point lead registered by the polling agency in late July.

Despite Harris’ overall bump in polls, the Democratic candidate is facing a stepped-uppressure campaign from pro-Palestinian activists following a televised interview Thursday in which the presidential nominee reiterated that she would not cut military aid to Israel if elected president. Activists have pledged to disrupt Harris campaign events in the coming weeks.

WHILE IN TECH NEWS- X goes dark in Brazil as feud with Musk escalates: Elon Musk’s social media company X saw mass service disruption yesterday in Brazil after Musk’s refusal to appoint a legal representative for the company’s operations in Brazil led the country’s Supreme Court to issue an order for X’s suspension late Friday. While supporters of the left-wing government’s drive to make social media companies more accountable for online content applauded the court’s move, right-wing politicians blasted the decision as an attack on conservative politicians, many of whom communicate with their supporters on social media. (Bloomberg | The Associated Press | Reuters)

AND IN OUR CORNER OF THE WORLD- Around 2k medical and community workers are set to begin carrying out a polio vaccination campaign in Gaza that will see some 640k children targeted for vaccination during daily eight-hour pauses in hostilities across the enclave. The campaign comes after the World Health Organization confirmed that a two-year-old had been paralyzed by the poliovirus, the first case of the disease recorded in Gaza in 25 years. At least 90% of children will need to be vaccinated twice over the coming four weeks in order for the campaign to be successful, according to WHO officials — a tall order given the destruction that Israel has wreaked upon the enclave.

Israeli forces killed at least 48 people in Gaza during the hours before the campaign commenced, with fighting ongoing in central and southern Gaza in the early hours Sunday. Meanwhile, Israeli forces pushed forward with their assault on the West Bank city of Jenin, with Israeli attacks reportedly killing at least 18 Palestinians in one of the largest Israeli operations in the West Bank in months.

Beauty unveiled amidst ancient wonders: Celebrate the beauty, nature, and cultural legacy of 30 nations as Miss Elite 2024 returns to the enchanting shores of Somabay from 2-14 September. For the fourth consecutive year, Somabay is hosting this prestigious international beauty pageant, celebrating women’s beauty and intelligence on a global scale. Experience the fusion of antiquity and modern elegance by attending the Grand Finale on 13 September at Mazeej Soma Beach Platform.

Egypt’s net foreign asset surplus rises to USD 13.3 bn in July

The country’s net foreign asset surplus expanded a modest 3.5% to USD 13.3 bn in July, up from USD 12.9 bn in June, according to Enterprise calculations based on Central Bank of Egypt figures. This is the country’s third month in the green after our net foreign assets shifted from deficit to surplus in May — the first time our net foreign asset position had been in the green since February 2022.

A rise in assets at commercial banks helped offset a rise in outflows: The net foreign asset surplus at commercial banks was up 3.7% from the end of July, after shrinking 41% m-o-m the month before. Assets were up USD 745 mn from the month before to USD 31.0 bn, while liabilities were up USD 644 mn to USD 28.2 bn.

It was more or less the same story for the central bank, which saw a net foreign asset surplus of USD 10.5 bn. The central bank’s assets were up USD 788 mn in July to USD 45.2 bn, while liabilities were up USD 437 mn to USD 34.7 bn.

Remember: Egypt’s net foreign asset deficit hit an all-time high back in January, recording USD 29.0 bn, before starting to gradually drop in the months that followed following the Ras El Hekma agreement, float of the EGP, and the flood of inflows that followed.

Egypt’s Madbouly talks commodities, tourism incentives, and the move to cash subsidies in weekly press conference

Madbouly talks oil hedging, commodities, and subsidies in latest presser: Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly spoke about a wide range of issues during his weekly press conference, including oil hedging, subsidy reforms, and overdue payments to pharma companies, according to cabinet statements (here and here).

#1- Preparing for the worst case scenario: The government is working on a number of different plans to ensure the economy stays immune in case of potential escalations of the geopolitical tensions in the region. The government has stocked up on strategic reserves of essential commodities and we currently have a six-month supply of strategic reserves of sugar, wheat, and oil, according to Madbouly.

Fresh oil hedging contracts: The government has purchased a “large volume” fresh oil hedging contracts, Madbouly said without providing much detail on the matter.

Refresher: The former government used hedging contracts throughout the fiscal year 2023-24 to hedge against rising oil prices. A government official also previously told us that the measure could be extended to other strategic commodities.

#2- Fresh incentives for tourism developers: The government is looking into introducing a number of incentives for tourism developers over the coming couple of years, Madbouly said. The additional incentives aim to boost investment in the sector and see the government’s goal of adding new hotel rooms so the country can accommodate its yearly tourism footfall targets.

Remember: The tourism and finance ministries in April launched a subsidized loan program for hospitality companies worth up to EGP 50 bn. The funds aim to help companies build and operate new hotels, expand existing properties, and repurpose existing buildings into hotels.

#3- When can we expect the move to cash-based subsidies? Madbouly said that he hopes to see the initial phases of the implementation of cash-based subsidies at some point during the next fiscal year. Madbouly emphasized the importance of moving from in-kind to cash-based subsidies, explaining that the matter has already been discussed by the National Dialogue, which is now in talks with the government over how it could be implemented.

#4- Gov’t pays back overdue payments to pharma players: The government has paid some EGP 10 bn in overdue payments to pharma and medical supplies manufacturers over the last two months. The amount represents a “large chunk” of the due owed by the government to sector players, Madbouly said.

Navigating new horizons: a modern career path beyond the degree

FROM ENGINEERING TO MARKETING-

An engineer by education, a marketer by profession, a leader by influence and a dreamer by choice. That’s how I think of and present myself. Like many of my generation, our careers have led us to fields vastly different from our undergraduate training. As the work environment evolves, this trend is becoming more common, with academia struggling to keep up with the workplace evolution.

BEYOND TRADITIONAL ACADEMIA-

While a solid academic degree remains vital for fundamental skills and knowledge, today’s job market demands more than traditional university settings are able to provide. Studying engineering for five years and then switching careers was uncommon and frowned upon 30 years ago, but today post-millennials are increasingly choosing to pursue subjects they find intellectually stimulating in their undergraduate studies regardless of future career paths.

THE SHIFT FROM LIFELONG EMPLOYMENT TO LIFELONG LEARNING-

On-the-job training used to be the answer to not having a degree in a certain field. That was perfectly fine in a world where individuals were happy to stay in the same company for 10-15 years or even retire while still working for their first employer. These scenarios are fast becoming urban legend. Professionals can no longer stay put for long in a single job. Not because they’re uncommitted, unloyal, or entitled. On the contrary, they crave learning, development, and new challenges, and tend to move on once they feel they’ve plateaued.

THE EMERGENCE OF ALTERNATIVE EDUCATIONAL PATHS-

In response to these changing dynamics, we’ve witnessed a surge in alternative educational pathways with an increase in post-graduate studies, self-development programs, and inhouse corporate academies designed to develop new job skills not covered by academic curricula. From online platforms to university-based executive education, acquiring new skills for advancement or total career shifts is within reach for lifelong learners.

Professionals today realize that they must go beyond traditional education to stay competitive. They recognize the importance of diverse learning pathways, including professional certifications, specialized training, and soft skills development which are now key differentiators in resume screenings as employers seek well-rounded individuals who can start contributing immediately.

The commitment to self-improvement is evident as more young people are willing to invest in their development through both traditional and nontraditional avenues such as micro-credentials — short, specialized courses that are part of a broader learning journey that allows individuals to adapt and grow in alignment with changing industry requirements and personal career goals. This holistic approach to career development represents a significant shift in the acquisition of knowledge and skills in the modern workforce.

A NEW ERA OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT-

The willingness of young professionals to invest in their development is commendable. Micro-credentials represent a significant shift in how knowledge is acquired, and professional qualifications are assessed.

This shift highlights a broader transformation in our approach to professional growth and development, reflecting a deeper understanding of lifelong learning as not just a necessity but an opportunity to reinvent and better oneself in a rapidly changing world.

And to that, I say good luck and Godspeed.

Mohamed Abdel Salam is the Executive Director of Executive Education at AUC School of Business.

For further information on our portfolio of programs, please visit AUC School of Business Executive Education.

Egypt’s Talaat Moustafa Group readies for Iraq expansion

All roads lead to Baghdad: Local real estate giant Talaat Moustafa Group (TMG) said that it is carrying out the legal and technical procedures needed ahead of carrying out investments and projects in Iraq, it said in a disclosure (pdf) to the EGX.

What’s next? The company said that it would announce further details once “executive procedures commence.”

TMG isn’t the only Egyptian company that has recently set its sights on the Iraqi market: Sawiris-owned Ora Developers inked an agreement with the Iraqi government to develop a new residential city in Iraq — dubbed Ali Al Wardi New City — which will house 120k residential units and is set to be the biggest residential complex in Iraq. Other Egyptian companies have also expressed interest in Iraq’s pharma, infrastructure, and construction sectors during Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s recent visit to Egypt and a delegation led by Industry and Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir is also set to land in Iraq on 9 September to finalize a number of strategic partnerships between companies from both countries.

And Iraq isn’t the only country in the region that TMG is expanding to: Talaat Moustafa Group began selling units in May for its first development both in Saudi Arabia and outside of Egypt. The mixed-use SAR 65 bn Benan City project in Riyadh that was developed in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s National Housing Company will be fully built out over eight years and eventually house 27.8k residential units, along with a sports club and health, educational, and commercial services.

It’s already been a big year for TMG: The company described its EGP 1 tn North Coast project SouthMed launched in July as “the fastest and top selling company of a single project launch in the MENA region.” This project and others led to the group’s sales increasing 6.5x y-o-y to a “record-high” of EGP 391 bn in 1H 2024.

And the bourse has taken note: TMG shares have been among the best performers on the EGX, now sitting up 147.4% since the start of 2024 and up 441.3% over the last 12-month period.

Madbouly’s meeting with Somali counterpart Hamza Abdi Barre steals spotlight on nation’s talk shows

Diplomacy dominated the airwaves last night, with the nation’s talking heads honing in on talks between Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly and his Somali counterpart Hamza Abdi Barre in Cairo, while also touching on ongoing developments in the West Bank and Gaza.

Madbouly affirmed “Egypt’s full support for brotherly Somalia and the Egyptian state’s keenness to support the unity of Somalia” during his meeting with Barre, according to a cabinet statement. Barre echoed Madbouly’s sentiments, expressing his “appreciation for the support that the Egyptian state has provided Somalia at a time when certain forces are attempting to divide the country.”

Ahmed Moussa was quick to jump in with his own comments on the highly publicized set of diplomatic meetups, telling his viewers on Ala Mas’ouleety that “Ethiopia constantly causes problems with its neighbors in the Horn of Africa and across the continent, including in Eritrea and Somalia. The country that hosts the African Union headquarters should be a nation of peace, but Addis Ababa is the opposite” (watch, runtime: 6:47, 4:23). “Ethiopia decided in January to occupy part of Somalia’s territory and wants to seize a portion of the country’s coastline for 50 years,” Moussa said, adding that “Egypt’s turn to Somalia was based on their requests, as Egypt never interferes in the affairs of any other country.”

“Egyptian forces are in Somalia in their capacity as peacekeeping forces, as well as to train and assist Somali forces,” stated Moussa, noting that this is carried out by the Egyptian Armed Forces and other state institutions within the framework of the military cooperation protocol between the two countries.

Amr Adib also voiced his support, telling his viewers on El Hekaya that “the steps Egypt is taking are very good and are yielding results,” (watch, runtime: 2:20, 2:10). This is particularly “when you’re in a place where someone is competing with you for your water,” Adib explained, adding that “Egypt does not compromise on its national security, and it can be anywhere and use any tool. Anything that threatens our borders threatens Egyptian national security, and when any country decides to be present in an area to protect its national security using all means necessary under international law, there is nothing wrong with that.”

“The more passive you are, the more others will expand over you, and you shouldn’t give anyone a chance to expand over you,” Adib argued. “You have clear interests, you have a great historic army, and you have a state with interests in the region. You are not an aggressor; you haven’t taken anyone’s livelihood, water, or gas.”

Developments in Palestinian territories also attracted the attention of various talk show hosts, with Ahmed Moussa telling his viewers that “Every time we get closer to reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu begins placing new obstacles, the latest being his refusal to withdraw Israeli forces from the Philadelphi Corridor” (watch, runtime: 3:29). Moussa argued that “Netanyahu does not want peace in the region”

“Israel is a rogue state, seeking to maintain a persistent area of tension in the region that remains unresolved in order to gain the support of the United States and Western backing,” said former Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy in an interview with Faten Abdel Maaboud on her program Salaat El Tahrir (watch, runtime: 3:43). “Israel is playing a dangerous game in the region that could have significant consequences,” Fahmy said (watch, runtime: 4:53).

“Arab reliance solely on the United States to resolve the Palestinian issue was a very big mistake,” Fahmy said (watch, runtime: 5:58). “The United States is not a neutral party and its internal political structure does not allow it to play the role of initiator or driver of negotiations in the Middle East.”

Kasrawy Group mulling new factory to assemble Jetour, Jac autos. PLUS: Basata + MadfoatCom, Dice + Twin Top, Saint-Gobain, Fertiglobe + Orascom Construction + Scatec, Siemens

AUTOMOTIVE-

#1- Kasrawy Group wants to assemble Jetour and Jac vehicles locally: Automotive player Kasrawy Group is looking to begin locally assembling Chinese Jetour and Jac car models, Al M al reports, citing an unnamed government source. The government is now working on allocating land for the firm to build its factory. This makes Kasrawy one of several car makers that expressed interest in the Egyptian Automotive Industry Development Program, which will offer incentives to auto players with the aim of localizing the industry.

#2- Gov’t to set up local EV manufacturing complex: The government is planning to establish a 50k sq m local EV manufacturing facility, the Higher Education Ministry said in a statement. “Serious steps” will be taken to raise the percentage of local inputs into the manufacture of EVs through the project.

M&A-

#1- Basata wants more of MadfoatCom: Fintech platform Basata Holding for Financial Payments wants to increase its stake in Jordanian bill payment provider MadfoatCom to 49%, after having submitted a binding offer alongside Jordan Kuwait Bank in March for a 30% stake in the company, Al M al reports, citing unnamed sources it says are in the know. Basata and Jordan Kuwait Bank are set to finalize their acquisition of 30% of the company over the coming days after receiving the required approvals, the sources added.

Gulf expansion next? Basata Holding is already planning to expand into the Saudi market through MadfoatCom as it already has the necessary regulatory approval.

#2- Dice wants to wrap its acquisition of Twin Top stake by the end of this quarter: EGX-listed Dice Sports and Casual Wear is hoping to finish its proposed acquisition of a controlling stake in Twin Top Real Estate Investment Company that it disclosed to the EGX last week by the end of 3Q 2024, Al Borsa reports, citing sources it says are in the know.

ENERGY-

Fertiglobe, Orascom Construction, and Scatec will receive usufruct rights in Ain Sokhna Industrial Zone to set up wind and solar power plants that will feed their green hydrogen plant, after cabinet approved their request, according to a cabinet statement.

The bigger picture: The green hydrogen plant — being set up by the consortium with the Sovereign Fund of Egypt and the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company — will provide the green hydrogen needed for Fertiglobe to produce green ammonia at its ammonia plants. The green ammonia will then be exported to the EU under an offtake agreement with Germany’s H2Global.

TRANSPORT-

Metro Line 1 is getting upgraded: A consortium of Orascom Construction, Hitachi, and French firm Colas Rail will develop Metro Line 1 under an agreement inked with the National Tunnels Authority, according to a statement. The agreement includes upgrades to the metro’s central system, communications, and its overall electrical system.

EDUCATION-

Arabic is no longer a pass/fail subject in international schools, after Education Minister Mohamed Abdellatif issued a decision putting forward new regulations regarding the implementation of the Egyptian curriculum in international schools. The decree now means that end of year grades must include scores for Arabic and social studies classes, with each subject contributing 10% of the student’s final grade. Arabic language classes will be mandatory at the pre-k level and will be taken alongside religious studies from grades 1-3, with the addition of social studies from grades 4-9.

INVESTMENT-

Saint-Gobain’s Ain Sokhna factory to go online in 2026: French glass and building materials manufacturer Saint-Gobain’s EUR 175 mn plate glass factory in Ain Sokhna should kick off operations in 2026, Saint-Gobain Egypt CEO Ahmed Wafik said during a meeting with Investment Minister Hassan El Khatib.

And more to come: The company has plans to invest some EUR 300 mn in the Egyptian market through 2026 setting up new factories, Wafik said, adding that Egypt is one of the company’s main investment destinations in the SEMEA region. The company filed a proposal to set up a new USD 40 mn glass factory in the Sadat City in June.

MANUFACTURING-

Siemens to aid electrical component localization efforts: The Industrial Development Authority inked an MoU with Siemens that will see it localize the manufacturing and assembly of low- and medium-voltage components and products — including low-voltage circuit breakers and electrical distribution panels, according to a statement. The statement also pointed to future cooperation between the government and the company that could see it set up a number of factories in the country.

Companies look to next year for IPO plans amid market uncertainty

The IPO market is struggling this year, with several companies postponing their plans to next year due to volatility and uncertainty, the Wall Street Journal cites bankers, lawyers, and corporate executives as saying.

Expectations of a slowdown in September — usually a busy month for IPOs — points to underlying concerns among investors that volatility could continue through the end of the year amid the upcoming US presidential election in November and potential interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

By the numbers: IPOs in the US have raised some USD 25 bn this year, faring well below the USD 55 bn annual average over the past decade. Both Chinese autonomous-driving technology company WeRide and ticket-resale platform StubHub pushed back their IPO plans, while AI chip maker Cerebras is among those considering pushing its IPO to late 2024 or holding off until next year.

Market turbulence has dampened investor confidence, with many companies that went public in the past two and a half years now trading below their IPO prices, with the exception of Reddit’s successful IPO earlier in March, up more than 70% from its USD 34 IPO price.

There’s still hope for smaller companies: The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies has outperformed the S&P 500 by more than five percentage points since late June. “Since the majority of IPOs are for relatively small companies — under USD 5 bn in value at the time of their offerings — the recent gains for this group is encouraging,” the WSJ said.

EGX30	30,774	+0.2% (YTD: +23.6%)
USD (CBE)	Buy 48.55	Sell 48.69
USD (CIB)	Buy 48.57	Sell 48.67
Interest rates (CBE)	27.25% deposit	28.25% lending
Tadawul	12,145	+0.2% (YTD: +1.5%)
ADX	9,285	+0.6% (YTD: -3.1%)
DFM	4,325	-0.2% (YTD: +6.5%)
S&P 500	5,648	+1.0% (YTD: +18.4%)
FTSE 100	8,377	0.0% (YTD: +8.3%)
Euro Stoxx 50	4,958	-0.2% (YTD: +9.7%)
Brent crude	USD 76.93	-2.4%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 2.13	+0.5%
Gold	USD 2,527.60	-1.3%
BTC	USD 58,955.70	-0.2% (YTD: +39.5%)

THE CLOSING BELL-

The EGX30 rose 0.2% at Thursday’s close on turnover of EGP 6.6 bn (75% above the 90-day average). International investors were the sole net buyers. The index is up 23.6% YTD.

In the green: Emaar Misr (+5.0%), Beltone Holding (+3.9%), and TMG Holding (+3.9%).

In the red: ADIB (-2.4%), Elsewedy Electric (-2.4%), and Juhayna (-2.4%).

CALENDAR

2024

SEPTEMBER

2-3 September (Monday-Tuesday): The Seamless North Africa conference, Cairo.

3-5 September (Tuesday-Thursday): Egypt International Airshow, El Alamein International Airport.

4-5 September (Wednesday-Thursday): The US-Egypt Joint Economic Committee meeting, Washington.

5 September (Thursday): Central Bank of Egypt’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

9-12 September (Monday-Thursday): The annual EFG Hermes London Conference.

9 September (Monday): Egyptian delegation to visit Iraq.

10 September (Tuesday): The fifth edition of technology conference Tech Invest will take place.

10 September (Tuesday): Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk to speak at AmCham luncheon, Nile Ritz Carlton, Cairo.

15 September (Sunday): National holiday in observance of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday (TBC).

16 September (Monday): Egypt-UK Investment and Opportunities Forum, London.

24 September (Tuesday): Enterprise Finance Forum, Cairo, Egypt

25-26 September (Wednesday-Thursday): The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s (AIIB) 2024 annual meeting, Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

25-28 September (Wednesday-Saturday): Cityscape Egypt, Egypt International Exhibition Center, Cairo.

30 September (Monday): Ban on sugar exports expiration.

OCTOBER

1-3 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Cairo Sustainable Energy Week, Cairo, Egypt.

6 October (Sunday): Armed Forces Day.

10-12 October (Thursday-Saturday): Egy Health Expo, Egypt International Exhibition Center, Cairo.

10-12 October (Thursday-Saturday): The FinExpo Conference and Exhibition, Cairo.

17 October (Thursday): Central Bank of Egypt’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

13-17 October (Sunday-Thursday): Cairo Water Week, Water and Climate: Building Resilient Communities, Cairo, Egypt.

20-22 October (Sunday-Tuesday): Mediterranean Offshore Conference (MOC), Alexandria, Egypt.

21-27 October (Monday-Sunday): The World Bank and IMF annual meetings.

NOVEMBER

4-8 November (Monday-Friday): World Urban Forum, Cairo, Egypt.

12-15 November (Tuesday-Friday): Arab African Investment and International Cooperation Summit, Aswan, Egypt.

21 November (Thursday): Central Bank of Egypt’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

26-28 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Egypt Energy Show, Cairo, Egypt.

DECEMBER

26 December (Thursday): Central Bank of Egypt’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

2H 2024: Gov’t to launch the Cairo Ring Road BRT buses.

3Q 2024: Egyptian-Armenian Joint Committee.

September 2024: Turkish-Egyptian Business Council meeting in Turkey.

November 2024: Egypt to host the World Urban Forum (WUF12).

End of 2024: The launch of the high-speed train line linking Ain Sokhna with Al Alamein City.

2025

July 2025: The first operational trail of Egypt-KSA electricity interconnection line.

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

2Q 2025: Safaga Terminal 2 to start operations.

2027

20 January-7 February: Egypt to host the African Games

EVENTS WITH NO SET DATE

End of 2027: Trial operations at the Dabaa nuclear power plant expected to take place.

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