CIB Drives Egypt Market Upwards

Egypt's market continued on its gains streak with turnover seeing a major boost recalling pre-uprising levels. Monday's gains were driven primarily by the impressive performance of the Commercial International Bank and the real estate sector. The main EGX30 index gained 0.75 per cent to close at 5,281 nearing its six months high of 5,452 points. Turnover reached LE636 million ($106 million), a level rarely seen in the struggling market since March 2011.

Egyptian investors drove the market on Monday, making up 78.5 per cent of trading and net-buying at LE13 million. The Commercial International Bank (CIB), Egypt's largest private bank, was the most active share in Monday's session and the main engine behind today's gains, contributing 10 per cent of the session's volume. CIB gained 1.55 per cent to close at a share price of LE29.5. Both Orascom Telecom (OT) and Orascom Telecom and Media Technology (OTMT) marking LE34 million in turnover. OT gained a meagre 0.28 per cent while OTMT dropped 1.69 per cent. Out of 179 shares traded, 137 saw their value increase while 31 deteriorated. Eleven shares remained unchanged.

The broader index, EGX70, which measures the performance of smaller shares, gained 1.17 per cent in Monday's session to close at 484 points. The Bourse's largest share, Orascom Construction Industries (OCI), which usually sets the tone for trade, increased by 0.35 per cent to land at LE276.07 per share. It saw LE29.1 million in turnover. The Real Estate sector boosted its year-to-date surge, gaining 1.57 per cent, on the back of the surge in Palm Hills Development (PHD), Egypt's second largest listed developer.

The developer which was beleaguered with legal ambiguity regarding its land bank saw its share price grow 0.44 per cent to close at LE2.26. Real Estate giant, Sixth of October Development and Investment (SODIC), gained an impressive 4.58 per cent to close at LE22.13 per share. Earlier in August, the country's third-biggest listed property developer, posted a first half net profit of LE85.1 million ($14 million) for 2012, compared to LE120.0 million loss for the same period a year ago.