Egypt’s monthly inflation eases by 1.5% in October

The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics said that the general consumer price index reached 240 points last month. Shutterstock
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Updated 10 November 2024
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Egypt’s monthly inflation eases by 1.5% in October

  • Easing was primarily driven by a 2.1% decrease in fruit prices and a 0.4% decline in vegetable and hotel services prices
  • Egypt’s inflation rate dropped to 26.3% in October

RIYADH: Lower food prices helped ease Egypt’s inflation rate, which rose by 1.5 percent in October, down from the 2.3 percent increase recorded in September, according to official data.

The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics said the general consumer price index reached 240 points last month, reflecting the modest decline in inflationary pressures. 

The easing was primarily driven by a 2.1 percent decrease in fruit prices and a 0.4 percent decline in vegetable and hotel services prices, which helped mitigate cost increases in other sectors. 

On an annual basis, Egypt’s inflation rate dropped to 26.3 percent in October, a sharp decline from the 38.5 percent reported in the same month of the previous year, signaling a cooling trend in price pressures. 

This comes as Egypt has been grappling with high inflation in recent years, driven by a mix of global economic pressures, currency devaluation, and rising import costs, which have led to persistent price increases, particularly in essential goods and services, straining household budgets and impacting consumer spending. 

While some categories saw price reductions, others continued to exert upward pressure. Meat and poultry prices surged 3.3 percent, while fish and seafood prices climbed 2.1 percent. 

Dairy products, including cheese and eggs, rose by 2 percent, while sugar, tea, and cocoa recorded a 1.2 percent increase. Bottled water and natural juices increased by 1.1 percent, and cereal and bread prices rose by 0.8 percent. 

Energy costs remained a key factor, with a 7.2 percent increase in electricity, gas, and fuel prices. Housing maintenance expenses rose by 1.5 percent, while rent increased by 0.7 percent. 

Medical services also contributed to the inflationary trend, with outpatient services up 2.4 percent and hospital services increasing by 1.7 percent. 

Food and beverage prices saw an annual increase of 26.9 percent, driven by sharp rises across several key categories. 

Grains and bread prices surged by 36.7 percent, while meat and poultry climbed 19.7 percent. Fish and seafood rose by 21.9 percent, and dairy products, including cheese and eggs, jumped 29.9 percent. Oils and fats increased by 14.9 percent, and fruits were up 28.5 percent. 

The vegetable category saw one of the largest hikes, rising by 39.1 percent. Sugar and sugary foods increased by 15.2 percent, while tea, coffee, and cocoa prices grew by 28.1 percent. Bottled water, soft drinks, and natural juices recorded a rise of 39.2 percent. 

Alcoholic beverages and tobacco prices rose by 35.1 percent annually, with alcoholic drinks up by 16.1 percent and tobacco products increasing by 35.1 percent. 

Clothing and footwear prices increased by 24.4 percent, driven by a 31.9 percent rise in textiles, a 24.9 percent increase in ready-made garments, a 29.9 percent rise in other clothing items, and a 21.1 percent increase in footwear.   

Housing, water, electricity, gas, and fuel costs rose by 20.3 percent. Actual rent prices were up 8.6 percent, housing maintenance costs increased by 16.7 percent, water and miscellaneous housing services rose by 20.5 percent, and electricity, gas, and other fuel prices surged by 44.9 percent.  

The furniture, household equipment, and maintenance sector saw a 24 percent annual increase, driven by a 22.0 percent rise in furniture and carpeting, a 28.2 percent increase in household furnishings, a 28 percent rise in household appliances, a 31.4 percent increase in garden tools and equipment, and a 22.5 percent rise in household maintenance goods and services. 

Healthcare costs jumped 31.3 percent, primarily due to a 40.6 percent increase in medical products and equipment, a 17.8 percent rise in outpatient services, and a 22.1 percent increase in hospital services.  

The transportation sector recorded a 30.2 percent increase, influenced by a 24.5 percent rise in vehicle purchases, a 28.7 percent increase in private transportation expenses, and a 32 percent rise in transportation services.  

Communication services rose by 12.6 percent, with postal services prices soaring by 60 percent, telephone and fax equipment prices increasing by 27.8 percent, and telephone and fax service costs rising by 11.4 percent. 

In a separate development, the Central Bank of Egypt announced that it will issue a one-year treasury bill auction worth $1.5 billion on Oct. 12. 

Acting on behalf of the Egyptian Ministry of Finance, the CBE will manage the reissuance of foreign currency-denominated treasury bills — either in euros or US dollars — to investors from domestic banks, as the maturity date of previously issued bills approaches. 


IMF delegation in Pakistan, discusses ‘key benchmarks’ of $7 billion loan program — official 

Updated 7 sec ago
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IMF delegation in Pakistan, discusses ‘key benchmarks’ of $7 billion loan program — official 

  • IMF has said Porter’s visit is not part of the first review of loan program
  • First review not scheduled to take place before the first quarter of 2025

ISLAMABAD: An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation is in Islamabad this week and will hold discussions with top Pakistani officials on the “key benchmarks” of a $7 billion loan program approved in September, a finance ministry official said on Tuesday.

The IMF delegation led by Pakistan mission chief Nathan Porter arrived in Islamabad on Monday on an unplanned visit. The team is expected to hold meetings until Friday with top officials from ministries such as finance and energy and the Federal Board of Revenue, the main tax collection agency, to collect data on “loan program performance to date,” a finance ministry official told Arab News, seeking anonymity. 

The IMF has said Porter’s visit is not part of the first review of the loan program, which is not scheduled to take place before the first quarter of 2025. 

“Some key benchmarks of the loan program will come under discussion during the meetings, as Islamabad faces some revenue shortfall and a recent botched attempt to privatize the Pakistan International Airlines,” the finance ministry official said. 

“Matters like external financing gap and reforms in the energy sector are also expected to be discussed with the IMF delegation.”

The IMF reached a staff-level agreement with Pakistan in July for a 37-month $7 billion bailout package, which the Fund’s Executive Board approved in September. This was the 25th loan program that Pakistan has obtained since 1958.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the ministry of finance said a delegation led by Porter had an “initial meeting” with finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervez Malik, Governor State Bank Jameel Ahmed, Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial and senior finance ministry officials were also present in the meeting, the ministry said.

Islamabad secured the bailout loan, critical to keeping its $350 billion fragile economy afloat, after taking painful measures such as hiking fuel and food prices and implementing reforms to broaden the country’s tax base and privatize state-owned entities.

“INTERIM CHECKS”

Pakistan’s macroeconomic conditions and investor sentiment have improved in recent months, which analysts say has led to a bullish trend in the country’s stock market.

Syed Atif Zafar, the chief economist at Topline Securities, said the IMF delegation’s meetings with Pakistani officials were part of “interim checks” to ensure a successful review of the loan facility next year. 

“The government failed to achieve the tax revenue target in the first quarter that has perhaps necessitated this IMF visit, but still the authorities have multiple options and time to overcome this gap,” he told Arab News. 

“The good thing at this point is that all structural and quantitative benchmarks of the loan program are on track.”

Tahir Abbas, a senior economist and head of research at Arif Habib Limited, said Pakistan last month requested the IMF for a $1 billion climate financing facility to mitigate climate risk, which would be discussed during the ongoing IMF visit.

“Pakistan’s revenue shortfall of around Rs200 billion ($720 million) in the first quarter has mainly necessitated this IMF visit,” he told Arab News. 

“The finance ministry will now inform the IMF delegation about the possible revenue measures to overcome the shortfall and cut the expenditures.”


NEOM board of directors announces leadership change

Updated 12 November 2024
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NEOM board of directors announces leadership change

  • Head of Public Investment Fund’s Local Real Estate Division since 2018, Al-Mudaifer has a deep and strategic understanding of NEOM and its projects

NEOM: The NEOM Board of Directors on Tuesday announced the appointment of Aiman Al-Mudaifer as acting CEO of the company. Al-Mudaifer assumes leadership of NEOM, following Nadhmi Al-Nasr’s departure.

As NEOM enters a new phase of delivery, this new leadership will ensure operational continuity, agility and efficiency to match the overall vision and objectives of the project.

Al-Mudaifer takes the helm of the organization with the support of a strong leadership team across NEOM’s regions, sectors and departments.

Head of Public Investment Fund’s Local Real Estate Division since 2018, Al-Mudaifer has a deep and strategic understanding of NEOM and its projects.

In his role at PIF, Al-Mudaifer oversees all local real estate investments and infrastructure projects. He is also a board member of multiple prominent companies within the Kingdom.

NEOM is a fundamental pillar of Saudi Vision 2030 and progress continues on all operations as planned, as we deliver the next phase of our vast portfolio of projects including THE LINE, Oxagon, Trojena, Magna and The Islands of NEOM. 

Through these projects, NEOM seeks to achieve harmony between livability, business and nature, and to create a better future for current and future generations.


Maldives, Bulgaria push for greater climate action, financing

Updated 13 November 2024
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Maldives, Bulgaria push for greater climate action, financing

  • Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu said small island developing states require trillions of dollars in climate finance
  • Bulgarian President Rumen Radev addressed the global impact of climate-related disasters

RIYADH: Insufficient financing continues to be a significant barrier preventing many countries, especially underdeveloped nations, from meeting their climate goals, according to the President of the Maldives.

Speaking on the second day of COP29, held in Azerbaijan from Nov. 11-22, Mohamed Muizzu emphasized that small island developing states require trillions, not billions, of dollars in climate finance.

“It is the lack of finance that inhibits our ambitions, which is why this COP, the finance COP, we need to deliver the new climate finance goal. This must reflect the true scale of the climate crisis. The need is in trillions, not billions,” Muizzu said.

He added, “It must consider the special circumstances of small island developing states — it must include adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage.”

Muizzu also reiterated the importance of the environment for his country, stating: “You have called for stronger climate action. Our call has not changed. Our cause has not strayed because, for us, the environment and the ocean are more than resources. They are our cultural identity.”

In a similar vein, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev addressed the global impact of climate-related disasters, emphasizing that no region is immune to the deadly and costly consequences of climate change.

“Bulgaria is committed not only to being part of regional and energy cooperation initiatives across Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and the Black Sea region but also beyond, by strengthening the links between the European Union and non-EU countries who share our priorities on climate neutrality, just energy transition, energy security, and low-carbon technological innovation,” Radev said.

He further called for broader action, stating, “All parties should undertake greater efforts to integrate climate change adaptation and resilience into all policies and strategies.”


Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to 12,048

Updated 13 November 2024
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to 12,048

  • Parallel market saw a drop, losing 50.59 points to close at 29,110.41
  • MSCI Tadawul Index shed 5.06 points to end at 1,516.14

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index fell on Tuesday, losing 58.74 points to close at 12,047.67.

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.75 billion ($1.53 billion), with 70 stocks advancing and 152 declining.

Saudi Arabia’s parallel market saw a drop, losing 50.59 points to close at 29,110.41. The MSCI Tadawul Index also declined, shedding 5.06 points to end at 1,516.14.

The best-performing stock on the main market was Al Jouf Cement Co., with a 4.75 percent increase to SR10.58. Other top gainers included Malath Cooperative Insurance Co. and Elm Co., with shares rising by 4.40 percent to SR15.66 and 3.87 percent to SR1,101.1, respectively.

The worst performer on the main index was Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co., whose share price dropped by 4.42 percent to SR12.12.

National Environmental Recycling Co., also known as Tadweer, announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Re Sustainability Middle East Co. to explore the potential for establishing smelters and recycling units in the Kingdom. According to a statement on Tadawul, the deal is valid for one year and carries no immediate financial impact.

The company’s share price declined by 0.45 percent to SR13.4. 

Purity for Information Technology Co. announced it has secured a contract valued at SR10.7 million from Saudi Comprehensive Technical and Security Control Co. to supply technology equipment. The company stated that the financial impact of the contract will be reflected in the first quarter of next year.

Its share price dropped by 0.73 percent to SR8.33.

Red Sea International Co. reported a narrowed net loss of SR2.18 million for the first nine months of this year, compared to a SR54.7 million loss in the same period in 2023. According to a statement on Tadawul, the improvement was driven by a 515.78 percent year-on-year increase in sales revenue. However, Red Sea International’s share price declined by 4.05 percent to SR71.

Lazurde Co. for Jewelry reported a 42.98 percent decline in net profit for the first nine months, totaling SR24.8 million, compared to the same period last year. The company attributed this drop to a 6.61 percent year-on-year decrease in operating profit over the nine-month period. Lazurde’s share price dropped by 2.05 percent to SR13.36.


UN climate chief urges aggressive action as emissions hit GDP

Updated 12 November 2024
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UN climate chief urges aggressive action as emissions hit GDP

  • UN official warned that worsening climate impacts will ‘put inflation on steroids’ unless every country takes bolder climate action
  • Simon Stiell called on governments to leave COP29 with a clear global climate finance plan

RIYADH: The global climate crisis is rapidly evolving into an economic threat, with the impact of emissions reducing the gross domestic product of several countries by up to 5 percent, a UN official said. 

Speaking at the high-level segment for heads of state and government at the COP29 in Baku, Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, emphasized the urgent need for more aggressive climate actions to address economic challenges, including rising inflation. 

“We used to talk about climate action as being mostly about saving future generations. But there has been a seismic shift in the global climate crisis, as the climate crisis is fast becoming an economy killer,” said Stiell. 

He added, “In this political cycle, climate impacts are curving up to 5 percent off GDP in many countries. The climate crisis is a cost-of-living crisis, as climate disasters are driving up costs for households and businesses.” 

Stiell’s comments came shortly after a report by finance consultancy Oxera, which revealed that climate-related extreme weather events have cost the global economy more than $2 trillion over the past decade, with the US being the most affected. 

The UN official warned that worsening climate impacts will “put inflation on steroids” unless every country takes bolder climate action. 

Stiell urged the world to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the economic suffering caused by slow and ineffective collective action on supply chain issues. 

Describing climate finance as “global inflation insurance,” he warned that failing to address the economic toll of climate change would lead to disaster. 

“Letting this issue languish halfway down cabinet agendas is a recipe for disaster,” he said. 

However, Stiell remained optimistic, asserting that effective climate action could save economies and create new economic opportunities. He pointed to the growth of renewable energy as a potential driver of stronger financial states for nations. 

“This isn’t just about saving your economies and people,” he said. “Bolder climate action can drive economic opportunity. Cheap, clean energy can be the bedrock of your economies. It means more jobs, growth, less pollution choking cities, healthier citizens, and stronger businesses.” 

Stiell called on governments to leave COP29 with a clear global climate finance plan and urged international cooperation as the key to combating global warming and ensuring humanity’s survival. 

“We need your direct engagement on new national climate targets and plans — NDCs — so that all of you can benefit from the boom in clean energy and climate resilience,” said Stiell. 

He added: “These are not easy times, but despair is not a strategy, nor is it warranted. Our process is strong, and it will endure. After all, international cooperation is the only way humanity can survive global warming.”