Egypt Markets: EGX30 & the Pound — October 1, 2026
Key Facts
- Egyptian stocks snapped a losing run: the EGX30 rose on Thursday after nine straight daily falls, in the last session of the Cairo trading week
- The EGX30 rose 2.24% to 53,055.03 points, its best day since 6 July and a close at the session high, but still 1.34% lower on the week
- Small and mid-caps led: the equal-weighted EGX70 jumped 3.96% and the broader EGX100 3.55%, with 218 of 274 listed shares rising and 17 falling
- Elsewedy Electric soared 14.29%, while Qalaa Holdings was the most-traded stock at about EGP771 million (US$14.8 million)
- The pound eased 0.44% to 52.27 per US dollar in late trade
- Interest rates stay on hold: the Central Bank of Egypt kept its overnight deposit rate at 19.00% on 24 September; the next decision is on 29 October
Today’s Focus
Egypt’s stock market bounced back on Thursday. The EGX30, the main index of the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) in Cairo, rose 2.24% to 53,055.03 points, its best session since 6 July.
The gain ended nine straight daily losses. It came on the last trading day of the week, because Egyptian markets trade from Sunday to Thursday.
The rally was wide. Of 274 listed shares, 218 rose and only 17 fell. Smaller companies did best: the EGX70 index of small and mid-sized firms jumped 3.96%.
The Egyptian pound moved the other way. It eased 0.44% to 52.27 per US dollar in late trade, so a dollar now buys more pounds than a month ago.
What matters today. One good day does not undo a weak September. Foreign investors will want to see whether buyers return on Sunday, when the new trading week opens.
01 The session in one read
The EGX30, which tracks the 30 largest and most-traded companies on the Egyptian Exchange, climbed 1,160 points, or 2.24%, to close at 53,055.03 on Thursday. It ended the day at its high, a sign that buyers stayed in control until the closing bell.
The bounce followed a painful run. The index had fallen in each of the previous nine sessions, from 20 to 30 September. Even after Thursday’s gain, the EGX30 finished the week 1.34% lower than its close of 53,776.69 on 24 September.
The real strength was further down the market. The EGX70, an equal-weighted index of small and mid-sized companies, rose 3.96% to 19,363.53. The EGX100, which combines both groups, gained 3.55% to 25,655.63. Equal weighting means each company counts the same, so these gauges show how the typical stock performed.
The pound did not join the rally. It weakened 0.44% to 52.27 per US dollar in late trade, against 52.04 on Wednesday. A weaker pound cuts the dollar value of Egyptian shares for foreign holders.
The breadth was convincing: almost nine in ten shares that changed hands rose, and the index closed at its session high. That points to real buying rather than a few large orders. But the move followed nine losing days, so part of it is likely short-covering and bargain hunting. The softer pound is the warning sign. If it keeps sliding, dollar-based investors may sell into further gains.
02 The day’s numbers
| Measure | Level | Change | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| EGX30 | 53,055.03 | +2.24% | Best day since 6 July; ends nine-day losing run |
| EGX70 EWI | 19,363.53 | +3.96% | Best day since 9 August; small and mid-caps lead |
| EGX100 EWI | 25,655.63 | +3.55% | Best day since 2 August |
| USD/EGP | 52.27 | +0.44% | Pound eases; late-trade print |
| EGX30, week | 53,055.03 | −1.34% | Down from 53,776.69 on 24 September |
| EGX30, year to date | 53,055.03 | +26.84% | From 41,828.97 at the end of 2025 |
| Advancers / decliners | 218 / 17 | 274 listed | 218 rose, 17 fell |
The EGX30’s highest close of the past 52 weeks was 56,676.16 points on Sunday 6 September 2026. Thursday’s close leaves the index about 6.4% below that peak. In September alone the index lost 5.42%, but it still ended the third quarter 2.79% above its 30 June close.
The pound has weakened steadily since late summer. The pound remains stronger than its weakest close of the past year, 54.65 per US dollar on 8 April 2026.
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| Instrument | Last | Change | YoY | Prev. | High | Low | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPX | 7,751 | +0.29% | — | — | — | — | — |
| NDX | 29,799 | +0.93% | — | — | — | — | — |
| DJI | 53,810 | +0.03% | — | — | — | — | — |
| RUT | 3,041 | +0.46% | — | — | — | — | — |
| US10Y | 4.6760 | -0.17% | — | — | — | — | — |
| VIX | 14.60 | -4.45% | — | — | — | — | — |
| DAX | 26,331 | -0.23% | — | — | — | — | — |
| FTSE | 10,833 | -0.10% | — | — | — | — | — |
| CAC | 8,675 | -0.46% | — | — | — | — | — |
| STOXX | 659.48 | -0.16% | — | — | — | — | — |
| NIKKEI | 67,524 | +0.83% | — | — | — | — | — |
| HSI | 25,440 | -0.83% | — | — | — | — | — |
| KOSPI | 6,579 | +3.68% | — | — | — | — | — |
| CSI300 | 4,691 | +0.58% | — | — | — | — | — |
| NIFTY | 24,436 | -0.15% | — | — | — | — | — |
| TSX | 36,619 | +0.39% | — | — | — | — | — |
| GOLD | 4,461 | +1.78% | +33.20% | 4,383 | 4,503 | 4,421 | 139,824 |
| SILVER | 65.59 | +1.26% | +73.05% | 64.77 | 66.98 | 64.81 | 46,406 |
03 Why it moved: a rebound after nine losses
No single piece of Egyptian news explained Thursday’s jump. The likeliest reading is a rebound. After nine straight losses, many shares looked cheap compared with their prices in early September, and buyers stepped in.
The size of the gains among smaller companies supports that view. The equal-weighted EGX70 rose almost twice as much as the EGX30, a sign that buying spread well beyond the largest names.
Monetary policy gave no fresh push. The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) kept its key rates unchanged on 24 September. The overnight deposit rate stays at 19.00% and the lending rate at 20.00%. High rates make bank deposits a strong rival to shares for Egyptian savers.
Inflation is easing, though. Urban consumer prices rose 14.5% on the year in August, down from 14.9% in July, according to CAPMAS, Egypt’s statistics agency. A steady fall in inflation would open the way for rate cuts, which would usually help stocks.
04 This week’s data, one by one
Egypt’s calendar was light on Thursday itself. These are the official items that shaped the backdrop this week and last.
Interest rates (CBE), 24 September. The Monetary Policy Committee held the overnight deposit rate at 19.00%, the overnight lending rate at 20.00% and the main operation rate at 19.50%. The only move this year was a cut of 100 basis points in February. The next meeting is on Thursday 29 October.
Inflation (CAPMAS), August. Annual urban inflation slowed to 14.5% from 14.9%. Monthly prices rose 0.1%. The CBE expects inflation to return to its target of 7%, plus or minus two percentage points, in the second half of 2027.
UAE currency swap, 29 September. The CBE and the Central Bank of the UAE renewed a currency swap worth AED 5 billion (about US$1.36 billion) for five years. A swap lets two central banks exchange their currencies, which supports trade settled in local money.
Trading week. Thursday closed a week in which the EGX30 fell in four of five sessions. The single gain came on the final day.
05 The day’s movers
| Driver | Close | Change | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qalaa Holdings (CCAP) | EGP6.88 (US$0.13) | +3.77% | Most-traded stock: about EGP771m (US$14.8m) |
| Commercial International Bank (COMI) | EGP127.69 (US$2.44) | +1.10% | About EGP436m (US$8.3m) traded |
| Talaat Moustafa Group (TMGH) | EGP87.70 (US$1.68) | +0.83% | About EGP229m (US$4.4m) traded |
| Elsewedy Electric (SWDY) | EGP120.00 (US$2.30) | +14.29% | Standout large-cap gainer; about EGP138m (US$2.6m) traded |
| Telecom Egypt (ETEL) | EGP138.71 (US$2.65) | +3.51% | About EGP134m (US$2.6m) traded |
| Emaar Misr (EMFD) | EGP12.80 (US$0.24) | −5.60% | Biggest liquid loser; about EGP107m (US$2.1m) traded |
Trading values in the table are estimates based on closing price and share volume. Qalaa Holdings, an investment company with stakes in energy and industry, was among the most heavily traded shares of the day, alongside Commercial International Bank (CIB), a heavyweight in the EGX30.
Elsewedy Electric, a maker of cables and power equipment, was the standout among large companies with a 14.29% jump. Telecom Egypt, the state-backed fixed-line operator, rose 3.51%.
Property developers were split. Talaat Moustafa Group edged up 0.83%, while Emaar Misr fell 5.60%, the largest drop among actively traded shares. Only 17 stocks closed lower across the whole market.
06 The regional scoreboard
| Index | Country | Change |
|---|---|---|
| EGX70 EWI | Egypt | +3.96% |
| EGX100 EWI | Egypt | +3.55% |
| EGX30 | Egypt | +2.24% |
| Satrix 40 ETF (Top 40 tracker) | South Africa | −0.98% |
Cairo was a bright spot in Africa on Thursday. All three main Egyptian gauges gained more than 2%, led by the small and mid-caps.
Johannesburg moved the other way. The Satrix 40 exchange-traded fund, which tracks South Africa’s Top 40 index of leading shares, fell 0.98%. The contrast shows that Egypt’s rebound was driven by local buying rather than a continent-wide wave.
07 The technical picture
The EGX30’s close at 53,055.03 sits about 6.4% below its 52-week closing high of 56,676.16. The session low was 51,883.87, just under Wednesday’s close, so that level now marks the first support for buyers to defend.
A close above the 24 September level of 53,776.69 would erase the week’s loss and suggest the September sell-off has run its course. A fall back below 51,883.87 would put the nine-day downtrend back in charge.
For the pound, the day’s range ran from 51.80 to 52.42 per US dollar. Its weakest close of the past year, 54.65 in April, is about 4.6% away from Thursday’s level.
08 What to watch
- Sunday 4 October: The Egyptian Exchange opens the new week; a second up day would confirm Thursday’s rebound
- The pound: Whether it holds near 52 per US dollar or slides further, a key test for foreign investors
- Inflation: CAPMAS publishes September urban inflation, after August’s 14.5%; a further fall would strengthen the case for rate cuts
- CBE meeting, 29 October: The Monetary Policy Committee’s next rate decision, with the deposit rate at 19.00%
- Breadth: Whether small and mid-caps keep outpacing the EGX30, a gauge of local investor confidence
Background: Egypt Economy 2026: Pound Steady Near 51 as the IMF Test Approaches, Egypt’s Reserves Passed US$57bn, and Gold Did the Heavy Lifting and more from our Egypt news hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EGX30?
It is the main stock index of the Egyptian Exchange in Cairo, tracking the 30 largest and most-traded listed companies.
Why did Egyptian stocks rise on 1 October 2026?
The EGX30 rebounded 2.24% to 53,055.03 points after nine straight losses. The rally was broad, with 218 shares rising and 17 falling, and small and mid-sized companies gained most.
What does a weaker pound mean for foreign investors?
A weaker pound means each dollar buys more Egyptian pounds. It lowers the dollar value of shares held by foreigners. On Thursday the pound eased 0.44% to 52.27 per US dollar.
When does the Egyptian stock market trade?
The Egyptian Exchange trades from Sunday to Thursday. Thursday 1 October was the last session of the week, and trading resumes on Sunday 4 October.
Source: RT market data, close of Thursday 1 October 2026; exchange figures from the Egyptian Exchange; interest rates from the Central Bank of Egypt; inflation from CAPMAS; swap details from the State Information Service.
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