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Egypt to Delay Electricity Price Hike by Six Months

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, speaks during a news conference to announce the Egyptian state's vision to deal with the global economic crisis at the headquarters of the Investment Authority in Cairo, Egypt May 15, 2022. (Reuters)
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, speaks during a news conference to announce the Egyptian state's vision to deal with the global economic crisis at the headquarters of the Investment Authority in Cairo, Egypt May 15, 2022. (Reuters)
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Egypt to Delay Electricity Price Hike by Six Months

Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, speaks during a news conference to announce the Egyptian state's vision to deal with the global economic crisis at the headquarters of the Investment Authority in Cairo, Egypt May 15, 2022. (Reuters)
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, speaks during a news conference to announce the Egyptian state's vision to deal with the global economic crisis at the headquarters of the Investment Authority in Cairo, Egypt May 15, 2022. (Reuters)

Egypt's government will postpone a decision whether to increase electricity prices by six months starting in July, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Wednesday.

Egypt has experienced increasing price pressures in recent months and devalued its currency by 14% in March after facing economic headwinds from the war in Ukraine.

Annual headline inflation accelerated to 13.3% in May, having risen steadily from 5.9% in December.

The government would bear the 10 billion EGP ($533.9 million) cost of postponing the electricity price rises, Madbouly said, in addition to the cost of commodity price rises.

On Monday, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said authorities were working to mitigate inflationary pressures, despite the impact on Cairo's strained budget.

Egypt had previously announced plans to eliminate power subsidies by the end of the current fiscal year of 2021/22, but in June 2021 announced a three-year extension.

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Saudi PIF Invests $200 Million in ETF Bond Fund

The fund is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia to focus on fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs). (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The fund is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia to focus on fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs). (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi PIF Invests $200 Million in ETF Bond Fund

The fund is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia to focus on fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs). (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The fund is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia to focus on fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs). (Asharq Al-Awsat)

State Street Global Advisors, a subsidiary of State Street Corporation, announced that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has invested SAR 750 million ($200 million) in the newly launched SPDR J.P. Morgan Saudi Aggregate Bond ETF.

According to a statement released by the company on Wednesday, this fund is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia to focus on fixed-income exchange-traded funds (ETFs). It is listed in both the London Stock Exchange and Germany’s Xetra, offering investors the opportunity to track government and quasi-government bonds denominated in either the Saudi Riyal or the US Dollar, including sukuk (Islamic bonds).

This investment aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, representing a significant step toward enhancing the international presence of Saudi Arabia’s financial markets and attracting foreign investments. The fund is available to investors across several European countries, including Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, and Italy.

Commenting on the investment, Yazid Al-Humaid, Deputy Governor and Head of MENA Investments at PIF, said: “The fund continues to create opportunities and enable access to diverse capital markets in the Kingdom. Investing in the first internationally listed Saudi fixed-income ETF underscores PIF’s commitment to deepening Saudi capital markets, attracting investors, and fostering partnerships across global financial centers.”

CEO of State Street Global Advisors Yi-Hsin Hung emphasized that the launch of the fund is a significant milestone in providing innovative opportunities for investors while contributing to Saudi Arabia’s economic growth.