Business Environment Strongly Improves in Egypt Despite Pandemic

A general view of Cairo, Egypt. (AFP)
A general view of Cairo, Egypt. (AFP)
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Business Environment Strongly Improves in Egypt Despite Pandemic

A general view of Cairo, Egypt. (AFP)
A general view of Cairo, Egypt. (AFP)

The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit Egypt PMI rose from 49.4 in August to 50.4 in September, signaling an improvement during the latest survey period.

“The result marked the first above-50.0 reading since July 2019. The latest div pointed to only a marginal improvement in business conditions, suggesting the Egyptian non-oil economy has further scope to recover to the level of performance seen prior to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,” the report said.

"The latest Egypt PMI data offered more optimism for businesses, as the September PMI indicated an improvement in economic conditions for the first time in 14 months. While only marginally in positive territory at 50.4, the PMI was also strongly above its trend level of 48.1,” Economist at IHS Markit David Owen said.

Meanwhile, CEO of the Egyptian General Authority for Investment and Free Zones, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, and Managing Director of Sumitomo Egypt, Ahmed Magdy met and discussed the latter’s increase of its investments in Egypt by EGP1 billion, through the establishment of a new project for the company.

Abdel Wahab confirmed that the Authority provides all facilities and incentives to the company to encourage it to enter the Egyptian market, and support all companies that boost Egypt's position as a strategic hub for global supply chains, serve the national economy and provide more job opportunities.

He stressed that the Japanese company’s plans to expand in Egypt are consistent with successive international institutions’ testimonies about the Egyptian economy, and its ability to quickly recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, by following the economic reform program adopted by the government.



Meta Buys China-founded AI Agent Manus

FILE PHOTO: The logo of Meta is seen at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Meta is seen at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo/File Photo
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Meta Buys China-founded AI Agent Manus

FILE PHOTO: The logo of Meta is seen at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Meta is seen at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo/File Photo

Facebook owner Meta has agreed to acquire Manus, an artificial intelligence agent created by a company founded in China but now based in Singapore, the two firms said.

However, analysts warned the deal could fall foul of regulators at a time of fierce technological rivalry between Washington and Beijing.

Exceeding the capabilities of AI chatbots like ChatGPT, AI agents can autonomously perform complex tasks for users, and are seen as having huge potential.

Manus, created by startup Butterfly Effect, can for example sift through and summarize resumes or create a stock analysis website, according to its website.

Meta said Monday that the deal -- the financial details of which were not disclosed -- will "bring a leading agent to billions of people and unlock opportunities for businesses across our products".

"The era of AI that doesn't just talk, but acts, creates, and delivers, is only beginning," Manus chief executive Xiao Hong said on X.

"And now (with Meta), we get to build it at a scale we never could have imagined."

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is making a huge push into AI, spending billions of dollars on acquisitions, hiring engineers and building data centers.

Bloomberg Intelligence analysts said the purchase is likely aimed at expanding Meta's AI agent task capabilities, and that it could be worth more than $2 billion.

However, "it could draw regulatory scrutiny given that Singapore-based Manus was founded in China", the analysts said.


Precious Metals Fall again, Asian Stocks Swing as Traders Wind Down

Gold and silver prices have fallen from record highs this week. DAVID GRAY / AFP/File
Gold and silver prices have fallen from record highs this week. DAVID GRAY / AFP/File
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Precious Metals Fall again, Asian Stocks Swing as Traders Wind Down

Gold and silver prices have fallen from record highs this week. DAVID GRAY / AFP/File
Gold and silver prices have fallen from record highs this week. DAVID GRAY / AFP/File

Precious metals extended losses Tuesday on profit-taking after hitting recent records, while equities fluctuated in quiet trade as investors wound down ahead of the New Year break.

Traders were taking it easy in the last few days of 2025 following a stellar 12 months that have seen tech firms push several stock markets to all-time highs, while bitcoin, gold and silver have also enjoyed multiple peaks, said AFP.

Minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting -- at which it cut interest rates a third straight time -- are due to be released later in the day and will be scanned for an idea about whether a fourth can be expected in January.

The US central bank's monetary easing in the back end of this year has been a key driver of the markets' rally, compounding a surge in the tech sector on the back of the vast amounts of cash pumped into all things AI.

It has also helped offset recent worries about a possible tech bubble and warnings that traders might not see a return on their investments in artificial intelligence for some time.

Still, Asian markets have enjoyed a healthy year, with Seoul's Kospi piling on more than 75 percent and Tokyo's Nikkei 225 more than 25 percent -- both having hit records earlier in the year.

Still, both edged down Tuesday, with Shanghai, Sydney and Taipei also lower. Hong Kong, Singapore, Wellington and Jakarta rose.

The mixed performance followed losses for all three main indexes on Wall Street.

The big moves of late have been seen in precious metals, with gold hitting a record just shy of $4,550. Silver, meanwhile, topped out at $84 after soaring around 150 percent this year.

Investors have been piling into the commodities on bets for more US rate cuts, a weaker dollar and geopolitical tensions.

Silver has also been boosted by increased central bank purchases and supply concerns.

However, both metals have pulled back sharply this week on profit-taking, with gold now around $4,340 and silver at $73.50.

Oil dipped, having jumped more than two percent Monday when investors rowed back bets on peace talks to end Russia's war with Ukraine as a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky ended with little progress.

That surge followed Friday's similar-sized rally on optimism for a breakthrough to end the nearly four-year conflict.

An end to the war could see sanctions on Russian oil removed, which would see a huge fresh supply hit the market.

Bitcoin, which has tumbled since spiking above $126,000 in October, was stabilizing just below $90,000 after a shaky end to the year.


Quality of Life Program Center Launches 'Smart Cities' Report

The Quality of Life Program Center has launched its new report on "Smart Cities". (SPA)
The Quality of Life Program Center has launched its new report on "Smart Cities". (SPA)
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Quality of Life Program Center Launches 'Smart Cities' Report

The Quality of Life Program Center has launched its new report on "Smart Cities". (SPA)
The Quality of Life Program Center has launched its new report on "Smart Cities". (SPA)

The Quality of Life Program Center has launched its new report on "Smart Cities," highlighting key global trends in the development of smart cities and their role in improving quality of life and enhancing urban sustainability.

This launch aims to promote human-centered cities and advance smart urban development, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The report notes that smart cities are among the most important pillars of modern urban development, as they rely on the use of advanced technologies, data analytics, and the Internet of Things to improve service efficiency, enhance quality of life, and address growing urban challenges such as traffic congestion, pollution, and resource management.

It also reviews several global indicators demonstrating the ability of smart solutions to reduce emergency response times, improve educational outcomes, increase residents' satisfaction with public services, and reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions through smart grids and advanced transportation systems.

The report emphasizes that adopting smart city concepts constitutes a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable urban development, improving quality of life, and building more resilient and prosperous communities, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Saudi cities at the regional and global levels.