Egypt’s Sovereign Wealth Fund CEO Resigns

A farmer carries a box of mangoes in Ismailia, Egypt (Reuters)
A farmer carries a box of mangoes in Ismailia, Egypt (Reuters)
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Egypt’s Sovereign Wealth Fund CEO Resigns

A farmer carries a box of mangoes in Ismailia, Egypt (Reuters)
A farmer carries a box of mangoes in Ismailia, Egypt (Reuters)

The head of the Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE), Ayman Soliman, has resigned, informed Egyptian sources revealed on Thursday.
They said Soliman resigned last June, around the time of the July ministerial shuffle, with his final working day set for the end of August.
A bill was already sent to the Egyptian House of Representatives to discuss transferring the Fund’s affiliation to the Prime Minister's Office.
In February 2019, Egypt formed the sovereign wealth fund to take control of some of the government's most promising assets in industries such as power and real estate, to bring in private investors to develop them.
Soliman was appointed as head of the fund in 2019 for an initial three-year term that was subsequently extended.
His resignation had been anticipated, with one government source saying the country's political leadership wanted to introduce fresh faces into key positions as part of a broader reshuffle, according to Reuters.
As of July, the Fund oversees approximately $12 billion in assets. It has attained the 48th position in the top 100 largest sovereign funds by total assets.
TSFE currently runs and operates five sub-funds: Infrastructure and Utilities Sub-Fund, Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals Sub-Fund, Tourism, Real Estate and Antiquities Sub-Fund, Financial Services and Fintech Sub-Fund, and Asset Management and Restructuring Sub-Fund.

Separately, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) announced on Thursday that Egypt’s unemployment rate fell to 6.5% in the second quarter (Q2) of 2024, nearly a 0.2% decrease compared to Q1.
In May, government data showed that during Q1 of 2024, the labor force was estimated to consist of 31.397 million individuals, reflecting a 1.0% increase from the previous quarter's 31.101 million individuals. Of this total, 13.758 million individuals were part of the urban labor force, while 17.639 million individuals were part of the rural labor force.

 



Oil Prices Set to End Week Higher on US Demand Optimism

File photo: Hawk Dunlap, an oil well control specialist, and Sarah Stogner, an oil and gas lawyer, survey an excavated pumpjack with a leaking surface casing in Ward County, Texas, US, August 6, 2024. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
File photo: Hawk Dunlap, an oil well control specialist, and Sarah Stogner, an oil and gas lawyer, survey an excavated pumpjack with a leaking surface casing in Ward County, Texas, US, August 6, 2024. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
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Oil Prices Set to End Week Higher on US Demand Optimism

File photo: Hawk Dunlap, an oil well control specialist, and Sarah Stogner, an oil and gas lawyer, survey an excavated pumpjack with a leaking surface casing in Ward County, Texas, US, August 6, 2024. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
File photo: Hawk Dunlap, an oil well control specialist, and Sarah Stogner, an oil and gas lawyer, survey an excavated pumpjack with a leaking surface casing in Ward County, Texas, US, August 6, 2024. REUTERS/Adrees Latif

Oil prices were set for a second straight week of gains despite edging lower on Friday, as recent US economic data boosted optimism over demand in the world's top oil consumer.
Brent crude futures looked set for a 1.3% weekly rise, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures had increased about 1.2%. On Friday, Brent fell 30 cents, or 0.4%, to $80.74 per barrel by 0528 GMT, while the WTI fell 40 cents, or 0.5%, to $77.76.
US retail sales data on Thursday beat analysts' expectations, while separate data showed fewer Americans had filed new applications for unemployment benefits last week, sparking renewed optimism around US economic growth.
"Crude oil reversed recent losses as positive economic data and supply side concerns boosted investor sentiment," analysts at ANZ Research said.
Analysts at consultancy FGE said oil markets would now return their focus to geopolitics, amid warnings of retaliatory attacks from Iran against Israel over the killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran.
A fresh round of negotiations began on Thursday to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza war, even as Israeli troops continued their assault on the Palestinian enclave.
The talks, which have been boycotted by Hamas, were extended and will resume in the Qatari capital Doha on Friday.
Keeping a lid on oil prices, Chinese refineries sharply lowered crude processing rates last month on tepid fuel demand.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on Monday pared its demand outlook for this year citing softer expectations for China.
"Despite crude oil inventories rising last week, gasoline and distillate demand remains strong. This doesn't appear to be the case in China, with apparent oil demand falling 8% y/y in July," ANZ analysts said.