Pre-Trading Thoughts

Purchasing Managers Index rose to 49 in December, up from 48.7 in November. The climb was due to lower rates of decline in output and new orders,an improvement in tourism activity, and a sharp rise in export orders that was the strongest since February.Seven international companies were awarded exploration and production licenses for eight oil and gas concessions in the Mediterranean, the Western desert, and the Gulf of Suez, with a minimum investment value of c.USD250 million. The chair...