Interest Rates
The credit and discount rate was also lowered by the same margin to 25.50 percent.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Egypt noted that the decision reflects the CBE’s cautious approach as it balances domestic economic recovery with persistent inflation risks and global uncertainties.
Fitch anticipates that the CBE will begin its new monetary easing cycle on 20 February 2025, with expectations for a 100–200 basis point rate cut.
The overnight deposit rate remains at 27.25 percent, the overnight lending rate at 28.25 percent, and the rate of the main operation at 27.75 percent.
This move marks the beginning of what is expected to be a consistent easing of monetary policy.
This marks the first interest rate cut since March 2016 for the main refinancing operations rate and the marginal lending rate, while the deposit rate has seen its first reduction since September 2019
The Central Bank of Egypt’s (CBE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to keep the CBE’s overnight deposit rate, overnight lending rate, and the rate of the main operation unchanged at 27.25 percent, 28.25 percent, and 27.75 percent, respectively
On March 6, the CBE raised the overnight deposit rate, the overnight lending rate, and the rate of the main operation in a special meeting by 600 basis points to reach 27.25 percent, 28.25 percent, and 27.75 percent, respectively.
He highlighted the detrimental effects of maintaining dual exchange rates, which lead to instability
The IMF loan has been augmented and increased to $8 billion instead of $3 billion "due to significant macroeconomic challenges that have become more complex to manage with the impact of the recent conflict in Gaza on tourism and Suez Canal receipts," according to the IMF statement
Additionally, the discount rate has been raised by 600 basis points to 27.75 percent
The overnight deposit rate, overnight lending rate, and the rate of the main operation have been adjusted to 21.25 percent, 22.25 percent, and 21.75 percent, respectively.
This committee meeting occurs amidst considerable uncertainty about the decision it might make, given the severe turmoil in the Egyptian market, both in terms of the exchange market and commodity prices. This is despite the observed slowdown in inflation in recent months.
He added that the auto glass industry is heavy in the spare part industry, and suppliers need to focus on the after-sale market to reach the final consumer.
Egypt’s real GDP growth for the first quarter of 2023 remained steady at 3.9 percent, compared to the previous quarter, according to the MPC statement
Capital Economics projects that the Egyptian pound will depreciate to 35 per dollar by the close of 2023, marking a 12 percent devaluation from its current rate of 30.95 per dollar.
The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Egypt decided, Thursday, to raise its interest rates by 1 percent.
The discount rate was also kept at 18.75 percent.
Egypt’s Central Bank (CBE) raised on Wednesday the interest rates by 2 percent; reaching the highest level since July 2017.
The overnight deposit rate, overnight lending rate, and the rate of the main operation were kept on hold at 16.25 percent, 17.25 percent, and 16.75 percent, respectively.
