New investors in Egypt’s stock market surge 110% to 64,000 in April

CAIRO - 13 May 2026: Egypt’s stock market saw a sharp rise in new investor registrations during April, with the number of newly coded investors jumping 110 percent year-on-year to around 64,000, according to a statement issued by the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA).

The regulator said the number of new investors in the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) climbed 215 percent during the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, reflecting growing retail participation and rising interest in investment products.

Trading activity also posted strong gains during April. The total value of securities traded,  including listed and unlisted instruments,  rose to around LE 2.2 trillion, compared with LE 1.24 trillion in April 2025, while market capitalization reached nearly LE 3.7 trillion by the end of the month.

Speaking during a meeting with members of the Egyptian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association, FRA Chairman Islam Azzam said the Egyptian Exchange recorded notable growth in the first quarter of 2026, with total trading values exceeding LE 6 billion, marking annual growth of 41.2 percent compared with the same period of 2025.

Azzam said the FRA is placing a strong focus on private equity and venture capital as key drivers for economic development, startup financing, and entrepreneurship growth.

He added that the authority continues to develop Egypt’s legislative and regulatory environment to strike a balance between market stability and investor protection, while also enhancing the attractiveness and competitiveness of the local market.

The FRA chairman also stressed the importance of deepening the role of capital markets as an effective platform for corporate financing and investment exits, saying the authority is working to modernize regulations in line with international best practices to improve market depth and liquidity.

Azzam highlighted Egypt’s progress in digital transformation and the growing use of financial technology in non-banking financial activities, calling on investors to further integrate fintech solutions into investment activities and benefit from newly introduced regulatory frameworks in the insurance and financing sectors.

He also pointed to rising youth participation in investment products, particularly gold funds, noting that investors under the age of 40 account for more than 80 percent of gold fund certificate holders so far, signaling strong demand for innovative investment tools among younger investors.

For his part, Ayman Soliman stressed the importance of continued coordination with the FRA and praised the regulator’s openness to discussing market challenges and proposals aimed at boosting listings and trading activity on the Egyptian Exchange.