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PIF to Sell Part of Stake in Saudi Telecom

The logo of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF)
The logo of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF)
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PIF to Sell Part of Stake in Saudi Telecom

The logo of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF)
The logo of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF)

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), the country's sovereign wealth fund, is considering selling part of its 70% stake in Saudi Telecom Co (STC) while retaining majority ownership, the state fund said on Thursday.

"The potential transaction is expected to contribute to PIF's establishment and development of new sectors, in addition to strengthening the Saudi economy's growth and diversifying its sources of income," PIF said in a statement.

PIF said it had appointed Goldman Sachs, HSBC, Morgan Stanley and SNB Capital to advise on the deal.

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Egypt’s Net Foreign Assets Jump in March after IMF Review Approval

Visitors look out towards the Giza pyramid complex as they tour the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza on the southwestern outskirts of the capital Cairo on May 5, 2025. (AFP)
Visitors look out towards the Giza pyramid complex as they tour the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza on the southwestern outskirts of the capital Cairo on May 5, 2025. (AFP)
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Egypt’s Net Foreign Assets Jump in March after IMF Review Approval

Visitors look out towards the Giza pyramid complex as they tour the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza on the southwestern outskirts of the capital Cairo on May 5, 2025. (AFP)
Visitors look out towards the Giza pyramid complex as they tour the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza on the southwestern outskirts of the capital Cairo on May 5, 2025. (AFP)

Egypt's net foreign assets jumped by $4.9 billion in March, central bank data showed, apparently boosted by the approval of the fourth review of the country's IMF program.

Net foreign assets climbed to the equivalent of $15.08 billion from $10.18 billion at the end of February, according to Reuters calculations based on official central bank currency exchange rates.

The International Monetary Fund in early March approved the disbursement to Egypt of $1.2 billion after completing its review of the country's $8 billion economic reform program. It also approved a request for a $1.3 billion arrangement under the IMF's resilience and sustainability facility.

Foreign investors were significant purchasers of Egyptian pound treasury bills after the approval and as one-year bills acquired after the March 2024 IMF agreement matured, two bankers said.

Egypt had been using foreign assets, which include assets held by both the central bank and commercial banks, to help prop up its currency since as long ago as September 2021. Net foreign assets turned negative in February 2022 and only returned to positive territory in May last year.

Foreign assets increased in February at both the central bank and commercial banks, while foreign liabilities rose at the central bank but declined at commercial banks.