Egypt’s Economy Grew by 9.8% In Q1 FY 2021-22

A view of the city skyline and River Nile from Cairo tower building in the capital of Cairo, Egypt December 5, 2019. Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
A view of the city skyline and River Nile from Cairo tower building in the capital of Cairo, Egypt December 5, 2019. Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
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Egypt’s Economy Grew by 9.8% In Q1 FY 2021-22

A view of the city skyline and River Nile from Cairo tower building in the capital of Cairo, Egypt December 5, 2019. Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
A view of the city skyline and River Nile from Cairo tower building in the capital of Cairo, Egypt December 5, 2019. Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Egypt's economy grew by 9.8% in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2021-22 that began in July, compared with 0.7% in the same period last year, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala al-Saeed said on Wednesday.

Egypt expects a GDP growth of 5.5-5.7% in FY 2021-22 that ends in June, she added.

Her remarks were made during a cabinet session chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, during which she reviewed the initial indicators of the country’s economic performance in the first quarter.

The restaurant and hotel sector recorded the highest quarterly growth rate of about 181.8 percent, reflecting the remarkable recovery from the coronavirus repercussions.

The telecommunications, manufacturing and construction sectors registered a growth rate of 16.3%, about 15.2%, and 10.5%, respectively.

The minister reviewed the contributions of various economic activities to the GDP during the first quarter of the current fiscal year, noting that the most contributing sectors are manufacturing, agriculture, trade, and real estate activities.

Egypt’s inflation rate rose to 8% on an annual basis and 1.6% on a monthly basis during September, Saeed said, attributing the rise to the higher global prices of energy, food commodities and minerals.



Gold Steady as Focus Shifts to US Data for Economic Cues

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
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Gold Steady as Focus Shifts to US Data for Economic Cues

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)

Gold prices were little changed on Monday, while investors awaited a slew of US economic data including the December nonfarm payrolls report for further guidance on the Federal Reserve's stance on interest rates.
Spot gold held its ground at $2,635.39 per ounce by 0510 GMT. US gold futures dropped 0.2% to $2,646.80.
How the US jobs data fares this week could hold the key to whether gold breaks out of its recent range, said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.
"There is a plethora of US data due for release this week (including ISM Services PMI data), and any downside misses could hurt the USD and help gold."
The US jobs report, due on Friday, is expected to provide more clues to the Fed's rate outlook after the US central bank rattled markets last month by reducing its projected cuts for 2025.
Investors are also awaiting ADP hiring and job openings data, as well as minutes of the Fed's last policy meeting for further direction.
Gold flourishes in a low-interest-rate environment and serves as a hedge against geopolitical uncertainties and inflation.
US President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to office on Jan. 20 and his proposed tariffs and protectionist policies are expected to fuel inflation.
This could prompt the Fed to go slow on rate cuts, limiting gold's upside. After three rate cuts in 2024, the Fed has projected only two reductions for 2025 due to persistent inflation.
The US central bank's benchmark policy rate should stay restrictive until it is more certain that inflation is returning to its 2% target, Richmond Federal Reserve President Thomas Barkin said on Friday.
Spot silver was down 0.2% at $29.57 per ounce, platinum dipped 0.7% to $931.30 and palladium fell 0.4% to $918.22.