Egyptian Stock Exchange Develops EGX 30 Index Methodology

The Egyptian Stock Exchange (EGX). (Reuters)
The Egyptian Stock Exchange (EGX). (Reuters)
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Egyptian Stock Exchange Develops EGX 30 Index Methodology

The Egyptian Stock Exchange (EGX). (Reuters)
The Egyptian Stock Exchange (EGX). (Reuters)

The Egyptian Stock Exchange (EGX) approved the development of the EGX30 index methodology for index formation and criteria for listing companies.

It also added a new standard for listing companies in the rest of the indices in the primary market so that the index conforms to the listing rules while maintaining its stability.

EGX issued a press release announcing that this step comes in light of the continuous development of indicators’ methodologies and their suitability to international best practices.

The statement said the new methodology is based on setting a maximum number of companies from the same sector, not to exceed five companies, contributing to diversifying the industries that make up the market indices to reflect the circulation and market performance comprehensively.

It also included setting a minimum limit for the company’s issued capital to be listed in the leading market indices.

It is required that the company’s issued capital to be fully paid, no less than EGP100 million or its equivalent in foreign currencies, based on the latest annual or periodic financial statements accompanied by a comprehensive audit report and certified by the company’s general assembly.

Chairman of EGX, Mohamed Farid Saleh said that developing the methodology aims to integrate with the listing rules and achieve more stability for market indices, enhance investment attractiveness and contribute to improving the diversification rates of the sectors that make up the index in line with international best practices.

The new methodology will be applied during the current review process in early August.

CEO of Azimut Egypt and EGX board member Ahmed Abou el-Saad noted that the development of the indicators’ methodology had witnessed massive efforts to correct any distortions during the last stages.

He explained that indices are significant markers for the company’s performance, which is reflected in the quality of the companies that join the index.

Mohamed El-Saiid, Executive Director and Head of Technical Analysis at HC Securities and Investment, explained that the continuous development of the methodology of EGX indices is undoubtedly significant.

He noted that it adds and ensures a more excellent and more comprehensive representation of the market through indices of all kinds.

The main criterion for selecting the constituents of the index is liquidity. A buffer rule is applied to the constituent selection process at each rebalancing to reduce turnover.

The company is considered eligible for inclusion in the index if its adjusted market capitalization is not less than the median of the adjusted market capitalization of the top 60 traded companies ranked as per the liquidity screening.



Oil Prices Headed for Rebound This Week as US-China Trade Talks Resume

FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks pump oil at an oil field on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 5, 2017. Picture taken October 5, 2017. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks pump oil at an oil field on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 5, 2017. Picture taken October 5, 2017. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor/File Photo
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Oil Prices Headed for Rebound This Week as US-China Trade Talks Resume

FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks pump oil at an oil field on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 5, 2017. Picture taken October 5, 2017. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks pump oil at an oil field on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Baku, Azerbaijan, October 5, 2017. Picture taken October 5, 2017. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor/File Photo

Oil prices slipped on Friday but were on track for their first weekly gain in three weeks after US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping resumed trade talks, raising hopes for growth and stronger demand in the world's two largest economies.

Brent crude futures fell 11 cents, or 0.2%, to $65.23 a barrel as of 0634 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude gave up 12 cents, also 0.2%, to $63.25, after gaining around 50 cents on Thursday, Reuters said.

On a weekly basis, both benchmarks were on track to settle higher after falling for two straight weeks. Brent has advanced 2.1% this week, while WTI is trading 4% higher.

China's official Xinhua news agency said trade talks between Xi and Trump took place at Washington's request. Trump said the call had led to a "very positive conclusion," adding the US was "in very good shape with China and the trade deal."

Canada also continued trade talks with the US, with Prime Minister Mark Carney in direct contact with Trump, according to Industry Minister Melanie Joly.

The oil market continued to swing with news on tariff negotiations and data showing how trade uncertainty and the impact of the US levies are flowing through into the global economy.

"The potential for increased US sanctions in Venezuela to limit crude exports and the potential for Israeli strike on Iranian infrastructure add to upside risks for prices," analysts at BMI, a Fitch affiliate, said in a note on Friday.

"But both weaker demand for oil and increased production from both OPEC+ and non-OPEC producers will add to downside price pressures in the coming quarters."