CBE issues LE 18.5B in T-bonds, bills Monday

CAIRO – 16 March 2020: The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, issued LE 18.5 billion in treasury bonds and bills on Monday, Mar 16.

The T-bonds were offered at a value of LE 4 billion with a three-year term.

while the T-bills were offered in two installments; with the first valued at LE 4 billion with a 91-day term and the second worth LE 10.5 billion with a 273-day term.

For the current fiscal year, the budget deficit is estimated to record LE 445.1 billion, or 7.2 percent, planned by the ministry to be financed through treasury bills and bonds and through international and Arab loans.

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) kept the overnight deposit rate, the overnight lending rate, and the rate of the main operation unchanged for the second time this year during Thursday's meeting, Feb. 20.

The overnight deposit rate, the overnight lending rate, and the rate of the main operation are at 12.25 percent, 13.25 percent, and 12.75 percent, respectively.

Moreover, credit and discount rates were declined to 12.75 percent from 13.75 percent.

A number of economists said the appeal of foreigners to Egyptian debt instruments would continue even after interest rates were cut.

Experts predict that interest rates on debt instruments will continue to fall due to falling interest rates, especially as they recorded a decline in their latest offer.

The Ministry of Finance aims to reduce the government debt to GDP ratio to 82.5 percent by the end of June 2020 and to 77.5 percent by the end of June 2022.