Egypt's Central Bank Raises Key Interest Rates by 100 Basis Points

Central Bank of Egypt's headquarters is seen in downtown Cairo, Egypt March 8, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
Central Bank of Egypt's headquarters is seen in downtown Cairo, Egypt March 8, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
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Egypt's Central Bank Raises Key Interest Rates by 100 Basis Points

Central Bank of Egypt's headquarters is seen in downtown Cairo, Egypt March 8, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany
Central Bank of Egypt's headquarters is seen in downtown Cairo, Egypt March 8, 2016. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

Egypt's central bank raised its key interest rates by 100 basis points in an exceptional monetary policy committee meeting, it said in a statement on Monday.

The central bank set its overnight lending rate at 10.25% and its overnight deposit rate at 9.25% citing global inflationary pressures amplified by the war in Ukraine.

The monetary policy committee had been scheduled to meet on March 24.

Egypt's pound currency traded at 17.42-17.52 against the US dollar on Monday, Refinitiv data showed.

The currency had been trading at around 15.7 pounds to the dollar a day prior.



Gold Rebounds From over One-month Low on Weaker Dollar

A goldsmith displays gold ornaments during a gold trade at Hua Seng Heng gold shop in Bangkok, Thailand, 23 June 2025. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT
A goldsmith displays gold ornaments during a gold trade at Hua Seng Heng gold shop in Bangkok, Thailand, 23 June 2025. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT
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Gold Rebounds From over One-month Low on Weaker Dollar

A goldsmith displays gold ornaments during a gold trade at Hua Seng Heng gold shop in Bangkok, Thailand, 23 June 2025. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT
A goldsmith displays gold ornaments during a gold trade at Hua Seng Heng gold shop in Bangkok, Thailand, 23 June 2025. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

Gold reversed course and edged higher on Monday, supported by a weaker dollar, after hitting a more than one-month low earlier as easing US-China trade tensions dampened safe-haven demand and bolstered risk appetite.

Spot gold edged up 0.1% to $3,277.62 per ounce, as of 0421 GMT, after hitting its lowest since May 29 earlier in the session.

US gold futures were steady at $3,288.90.

"There is less of a 'doom and gloom' outlook surrounding both tariff talks and events in the Middle East, which is relegating gold to play second fiddle to risk assets," KCM Trade Chief Market Analyst Tim Waterer said.

Asian shares firmed, with Wall Street futures advancing, while the US dollar index fell 0.2%. A weaker dollar makes greenback-priced bullion less expensive.

The US and China have resolved issues surrounding shipments of rare earth minerals and magnets to the US, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday, adding that the Trump administration's various trade deals with other countries could be done by the September 1 Labor Day holiday.

Canada scrapped its digital services tax targeting US technology firms late on Sunday, just hours before it was due to take effect, in a bid to advance stalled trade negotiations with the United States.

The Iran-Israel ceasefire after a 12-day conflict also appeared to be holding, further reducing safe-haven demand.

"The dollar remains pressured, which is limiting the extent of the slide for gold. However, the $3,250 level shapes as a key support level for gold. Any breach of this level could see losses accelerate towards the $3,200 level," Waterer said.

Stable geopolitical and economic conditions often reduce demand for gold as a safe-haven asset, while the non-yielding asset's appeal further wanes in a high-interest-rate environment.

Spot silver rose 0.5% to $36.14 per ounce, platinum firmed 1.9% to $1,364.74, while palladium was up 1.5% at $1,150.50.