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Egypt Reduces Jet Fuel Prices to Boost Aviation, Tourism Sectors

A worker gesturing for cars to move as others fill up at a petrol station in Cairo, Egypt on June 29, 2017 [KHALED DESOUKI/Getty Images]
A worker gesturing for cars to move as others fill up at a petrol station in Cairo, Egypt on June 29, 2017 [KHALED DESOUKI/Getty Images]
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Egypt Reduces Jet Fuel Prices to Boost Aviation, Tourism Sectors

A worker gesturing for cars to move as others fill up at a petrol station in Cairo, Egypt on June 29, 2017 [KHALED DESOUKI/Getty Images]
A worker gesturing for cars to move as others fill up at a petrol station in Cairo, Egypt on June 29, 2017 [KHALED DESOUKI/Getty Images]

Egypt will reduce jet fuel prices by 15 cents per gallon from January 21 until the end of 2021 to support the tourism and aviation sectors amid challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision came during the fourth meeting between Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled Al-Anani, and Minister of Civil Aviation Mohamed Manar to discuss ways to boost the affected sectors.

For his part, Anani hailed the initiative, saying it will boost tourism in Egypt by motivating international companies to increase their flights.

Also, Manar praised the petroleum sector’s effort and support in providing fuel to all Egypt’s airports.

In a related context, Egypt and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) signed a finance cooperation program for 2021, providing the country with integrated financing solutions worth $1.1 billion.

The funds come as part of the $3 billion agreement concluded between the Ministry of International Cooperation and the ITFC in 2018.

The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Planning and Economic Development and Egypt’s Governor at the Islamic Development Bank Group Hala El-Said, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Aly Meselhi, Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, and Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea.

The program was signed by ITFC CEO Hani Salem Sonbol, Executive Vice President of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) Ashraf Abdullah, and Vice-Chairperson of the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) Ahmed Youssef.

According to Molla, the five agreements have a total value of $9.2 billion, including the fifth framework agreement signed at the end of January 2018 at a value of $3 billion. For the financing of basic commodities, 16 financing operations amounting to $2.225 billion were approved within the agreement’s framework.

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Gold Poised for Biggest Weekly Fall in over Five Months on Dollar Strength

FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
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Gold Poised for Biggest Weekly Fall in over Five Months on Dollar Strength

FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

Gold prices dropped on Friday, poised for their steepest weekly decline in over five months, pressured by a stronger dollar and as markets absorbed the implications of Donald Trump's victory and its potential impact on US interest rate expectations.

Spot gold fell 0.6% to $2,690.62 per ounce as of 9:50 a.m. ET (1450 GMT), and was down 1.6% for the week.

US gold futures shed 0.3% to $2,697.90.

The dollar index gained 0.3%, on track for a weekly gain, Reuters reported

"In the last month, the story has been the uncertainty risk of the election and if there was going to be normalisation of transition, but this election appeared to be very decisive on the White House," said Alex Ebkarian, chief operating officer at Allegiance Gold.

"A lot of risk-on assets started benefiting in terms of the potential future implication of policies, so we had money go out of metals into these alternatives."

The Federal Reserve on Thursday cut interest rates by 25 basis points, but indicated a cautious approach to further cuts.

Trump's victory has fuelled questions about whether the Fed may proceed to cut rates at a slower and smaller pace, given the former president's tariff policy.

However, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the election results would have no "near-term" impact on monetary policy.

The prospect of rate cuts, starting with the half basis point reduction in September, has underpinned gold's record rally this year.

Although bullion is reputed as a hedge against inflation, higher interest rates reduce non-yielding gold's appeal.

"Should markets restore the odds for a pre-Christmas Fed rate cut...that should help keep spot gold above the psychological $2700 level," Exinity Group Chief Market Analyst Han Tan said.

On the physical front, gold demand in India faltered, while Japan and Singapore saw some buying.

Spot silver fell 1.3% to $31.58 per ounce, platinum fell 1.8% to $979.15, palladium shed 2.3% to $1,001.25. All three metals were heading for weekly declines.