Egypt Finance Ministry Stresses Flexibility in Handling Global Economic Changes

In this file a man counts Egyptian pound banknotes at a currency exchange shop in downtown Cairo on November 3, 2016. (AFP)
In this file a man counts Egyptian pound banknotes at a currency exchange shop in downtown Cairo on November 3, 2016. (AFP)
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Egypt Finance Ministry Stresses Flexibility in Handling Global Economic Changes

In this file a man counts Egyptian pound banknotes at a currency exchange shop in downtown Cairo on November 3, 2016. (AFP)
In this file a man counts Egyptian pound banknotes at a currency exchange shop in downtown Cairo on November 3, 2016. (AFP)

Egypt’s Finance Minister Mohammed Maait stressed that his country was capable of handling with flexibility the rapid global economic changes that are directly impacting consumers and public policies.

He made his remarks on Saturday while presenting the performance indicators for 2021/2022, saying Egypt was one of the few countries that achieved a surplus of 1.3 percent last year compared to other emerging countries that achieved a preliminary deficit of 4.7 percent.

“This reflects our ability to flexibly adapt to global economic changes while maintaining a safe economic path,” he remarked.

The minister met with the British Ambassador to Cairo, Gareth Bailey.

Maait expressed Egypt’s interest in boosting the decades-long cooperation in manufacturing currency.

This will benefit Egypt’s future ambitions and bolster its ability to meet local and regional market demands.

For his part Bailey, said his country supports Egypt's development efforts in various fields so that it can meet the needs of its citizens and improve their living standards and services.

The ambassador expressed the desire to explore opportunities for cooperation in the field of coinage between the two countries' mints in a way that benefits their mutual interests and enhances their partnership.



Oil Steadies, But on Track for Biggest Weekly Loss in Over a Month

A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
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Oil Steadies, But on Track for Biggest Weekly Loss in Over a Month

A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo

Crude oil futures steadied on Friday after strong US retail sales data, but Chinese economic indicators remained mixed and prices were headed for their biggest weekly loss in more than a month on concerns about demand.
Brent crude futures gained 8 cents, or 0.1%, to $74.53 a barrel by 0338 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $70.82 a barrel, up 15 cents, or 0.2%, Reuters said.
Both contracts settled higher on Thursday for the first time in five sessions after data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed that US crude oil, gasoline and distillate inventories fell last week.
Brent and WTI are set to fall about 6% this week, their biggest weekly decline since Sept. 2, after OPEC and the International Energy Agency cut their forecasts for global oil demand in 2024 and 2025 and concerns eased about a potential retaliatory attack by Israel on Iran that could disrupt Tehran's oil exports.
IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong said while oil prices remained subdued on Friday, there were signs of near-term stabilization after the market factored in fading geopolitical risks over the past week.
"The recent run in stronger-than-expected US economic data does offer further relief around growth risks, but market participants are also side-eyeing any recovery in demand from China, given recent stimulus unleash," he said in an email.
US retail sales increased slightly more than expected in September, with investors still pricing in a 92% chance for a Federal Reserve rate cut in November.
Meanwhile, third-quarter economic growth in the world's top oil importer China was at its slowest pace since early 2023, though consumption and industrial output figures for September beat forecasts.
China's latest data dump offered somewhat of a mixed bag, with the country now officially falling short of its 5% growth target for the year and the absence of a sizable fiscal push seems to leave some reservations on overall oil demand, said IG's Yeap.
China's refinery output also declined for the third straight month as weak fuel consumption and thin refining margins curbed processing.
Markets, however, remained concerned about possible price spikes given simmering Middle East tensions, with Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group saying on Friday it was moving to a new and escalating phase in its war against Israel after the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Geopolitical risks, such as developments in the Middle East, will continue to drive fears of supply disruptions and in turn short-term spikes in oil prices, said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova.