Cairo, March 1, 2026, 11:11 GMT+2 — Regular session
- EGX is kicking off futures trading tied to the EGX30 index—this marks the initial stage in its derivatives launch.
- Mid-morning in Egypt saw stocks tumble, declines spreading across all the main indices.
- Early futures liquidity draws investors’ attention, along with major corporate updates and the March 3 PMI print.
Futures tied to Egypt’s EGX30 index started trading Sunday, marking the debut of listed derivatives on the local exchange. According to the bourse, contracts come in three- and six-month durations, expiring the third Wednesday, with settlement in cash the following business day (T+1). Each index point equals one Egyptian pound. Given current index levels, that’s about 47,600 pounds for a single contract. Trading keeps to the cash-market schedule and observes shorter hours during Ramadan.
Volatility hit early in the week on the cash market, with the EGX30 tumbling 3.29% to 47,591.58 points by mid-morning. Data from Investing.com also showed the EGX70 sliding 4.58%, and the EGX100 EWI dropping 4.30%.
The debut arrives during a stretch dominated by macro news. On Feb. 25, the IMF announced it had wrapped up reviews clearing Egypt to access roughly $2.3 billion, stating that “Egypt’s macroeconomic situation has improved amid sustained stabilization efforts.” Still, the IMF flagged patchy progress on structural reform. Reuters
Financial Regulatory Authority approval is in, and the futures market now has its license, according to exchange chairman Islam Azzam. Contracts will run through a central counterparty, effectively a clearing house that stands between each side. Settlement? That’s Taswyaat’s job, while the Egyptian Exchange Information Dissemination Co (EGID) built the trading platform. Single-stock futures and more index contracts are on the agenda for later, Azzam said.
Egypt’s trading week spans Sunday through Thursday. Pre-open kicks off at 09:30 a.m., then the continuous session picks up from 10:00 a.m. until 14:15. After that, there’s a closing price discovery window. That’s per the EFG Hermes trading guide.
Telecom Egypt reported a 2025 net profit that more than doubled, hitting 22.6 billion Egyptian pounds, while revenue climbed 31% to 106.7 billion. “We delivered growth ahead of expectations—validating our strategy and disciplined execution,” said Managing Director and CEO Tamer El Mahdi. The board is putting forward a 1.50 pound per share cash dividend, pending shareholder approval. Telecom Egypt
Telecom Egypt shares slipped 2.31% to 90.65 pounds, according to Investing.com. The stock saw a range of 86.00 to 90.90 pounds during the session.
Commercial International Bank got the green light from the central bank to kick off due diligence on HSBC’s retail banking portfolio, but emphasized there’s no guarantee of a deal. Shares in CIB dropped 3.15% to 129.30 pounds partway through the session.
The debut week for futures trading may see light volumes, with leverage adding extra punch in either direction—margin requirements mean even minor shifts can spark outsized profits or losses. Regional risk sentiment has been shaky as well; U.S.-Iran tensions have weighed on Gulf stocks and pushed Egypt down in recent sessions, according to Reuters.
Coming soon: S&P Global is set to publish February’s Egypt PMI at 05:15 UTC on March 3, its release calendar shows. This private-sector snapshot, where 50 marks the line between expansion and contraction, tends to drop before the day gets going and sometimes stirs sentiment during low-liquidity hours.
