The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE)
has decided to keep its key policy rates unchanged. The overnight deposit rate, overnight
lending rate, and the rate of the main operation remain at 19.00 percent, 20.00 percent, and
19.50 percent, respectively. The discount rate was also maintained at 19.50 percent. This
decision reflects the Committee’s assessment of current inflation dynamics and the evolving
outlook since the previous MPC meeting.
Globally, economic activity continues to grow at a slower pace, constrained by geopolitical
volatility, persistent trade policy uncertainty, and subdued demand conditions. While disinflation
has broadly continued across many economies, inflationary pressures remain—though unevenly
distributed—prompting central banks to maintain a cautious monetary policy stance in line with
respective economic conditions. Within commodity markets, energy prices recently increased
amid heightened uncertainty, following a decline from their conflict-triggered peaks. Meanwhile,
agricultural commodity prices have exhibited divergent movements, reflecting heterogeneous
supply and demand conditions across markets. Overall, the global outlook remains vulnerable to
escalating risks, particularly resurgent regional conflict, tighter financial conditions, and supply
chain disruptions.
Domestically, the nowcast for real GDP growth in Q2 2026 points to a mild deceleration, reflecting
the adverse impact of the regional conflict on economic activity, following a moderation to 5.0
percent in Q1 2026. As such, the CBE projects that real GDP growth will average around 5.0
percent for FY 2025/26, with output remaining below potential, though convergence to that level
is expected by H1 2027. Accordingly, the current output gap trajectory suggests that demanddriven inflationary pressures will remain limited in the short term.
Regarding inflation outturns, annual headline inflation in June 2026 eased to 14.3 percent, with
monthly headline inflation declining markedly to negative 0.4 percent. Meanwhile, annual core
inflation edged up to 14.3 percent, largely reflecting an unfavorable base effect, despite monthly
dynamics decelerating to 0.3 percent from the previous month. Both monthly headline and core
readings are below their historical averages, reflecting the gradual dissipation of earlier seasonal
shocks

Youm7-

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Egypt decided at the end of its meeting today, Thursday, to maintain the overnight deposit and lending rates at 19% and 20%, respectively.

The Central Bank uses interest rates as a tool to control inflation—that is, rising prices of goods and services—by lowering interest rates when inflation declines or raising interest rates when the rate of price increases rises.

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Egypt had decided at its previous meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2026, to keep the key interest rates unchanged. Accordingly, it decided to maintain the overnight deposit and lending rates and the Central Bank's main operation rate at 19.00%, 20.00%, and 19.50%, respectively.

The discount rate was also kept at 19.50%. This decision is consistent with the Committee's view of the latest inflation developments and expectations, in light of an uncertain external environment.

Trading Economics-


The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.62% to close at 7,292 on Thursday, recovering modestly from an over one-month low as chipmakers led the gains. Semiconductor shares found support after reports that SK hynix's planned US ADR offering was more than seven times oversubscribed, reflecting strong investor demand for the AI memory chipmaker. SK hynix climbed 5.83%, while Samsung Electronics edged up 0.36%, after suffering sharp declines a day earlier, helping lift the index. Other notable gainers included SK Square (4.80%), SK Inc. (2.36%), LS Electric Co. (2.13%), and Hyosung Heavy Industries (3.87%). Additionally, sentiment was supported after the Asian Development Bank raised South Korea's 2026 growth forecast to 2.6% from 1.9%, citing robust global AI demand and strong semiconductor exports as key drivers of economic growth.

Trading Economics-


China's food prices fell 1.6% year-on-year in June 2026, following a 1.7% decline in the previous month, which was the steepest decline in seven months. It was the third consecutive monthly decrease, reflecting ample food supplies and weak consumer demand. Prices continued to decline for fresh fruit (-0.7% vs -1.0% in May), edible oils (-1.1% vs -1.2%), and dairy products (-1.7% vs -1.2%), while fresh vegetable prices fell after rising in May (-0.3% vs 1.6%). Pork prices, a key component of China's food basket, declined at a slower pace (-15.9% vs -16.1%) amid abundant supply and subdued consumption. In contrast, egg prices rose at a faster pace (16.0% vs 6.6%).

Trading Economics-


The Shanghai Composite climbed 1.65% to close at 4,036.6, while the Shenzhen Component surged 3.07% to 15,398.7 on Thursday, rebounding from one-month lows as investors welcomed the PBOC's pledge to keep policy supportive. The central bank signaled that it would keep monetary policy appropriately loose and step up financial support to boost domestic consumption, while acknowledging an imbalance between strong supply and weak demand. The PBOC has kept rates and RRR unchanged, focusing instead on refining its policy framework and transmission mechanisms. On the economic front, annual consumer inflation eased to a three-month low of 1% in June from 1.2% in May, while producer inflation rose to 4.1% from 3.9%, the fastest pace since July 2022. Tech and chip stocks outperformed, including Cambricon Technologies (8.59%), Hygon Information Technology (5.97%), SMIC (13.74%), GigaDevice Semiconductor (10%), Zhongji Innolight (5.9%), Eoptolink Technology (6.78%), and NAURA Technology (9.49%).

Trading Economics-


Egypt's annual urban inflation eased for the third consecutive month to 14.3% in June 2026 from 14.6% in May, below market expectations of 15.1%. It was the lowest inflation rate since February, as the impact of higher fuel prices continued to fade, with transport inflation slowing to 24.4% in June from 24.7% in May. Egypt raised fuel prices in early March by about 14% to 17% across a wide range of petroleum products, marking the first increase this year amid elevated global oil prices. The largest component of the inflation basket, food and beverages, also moderated to 5.4% from 7.6% in May, when it recorded the fastest increase in a year. Inflation also eased for clothing and footwear (13.6% vs 14.2%) and health (4.0% vs 4.1%). However, housing and utility prices accelerated further (41.2% vs 40.4%), driven by higher electricity costs. On a monthly basis, the CPI fell 0.4%, reversing a 1.6% increase in the previous month and marking the first monthly decline since July 2025.

Trading Economics-


Japan’s machine tool orders surged 52.8% year-on-year to JPY 203,515 million in June 2026, following a 37.4% increase in the previous month and far exceeding market expectations of a 37.4% rise. This reflected robust demand across both domestic and overseas markets. Foreign orders climbed 56.0% to JPY 145,499 million after rising 37.7% in May, while domestic orders advanced 45.5% to JPY 58,016 million, following a 36.4% increase. On a monthly basis, total machine tool orders jumped 15.0% in June, reversing a 6.4% decline in the previous month. For the first half of the year, machine tool orders totaled JPY 1,055,281 million, up 35.7% from the corresponding period a year earlier, driven by strong growth in both foreign (40.9%) and domestic (22.8%) orders.

Trading Economics-


Industrial production in Saudi Arabia fell 18.7% year-on-year in May 2026, easing slightly from a 19.2% decline in April. The downturn was driven by a 26.3% slump in oil-related activities, reflecting sharp contractions in crude petroleum and natural gas extraction (-28.6%) and coke and refined petroleum products (-16.7%). Meanwhile, non-oil activities edged down 0.5%, as manufacturing slipped 0.6%, weighed by declines in chemicals (-4.0%) and food products (-3.5%), partly offset by gains in basic metals (12.8%). Other economic activities expanded 3.3%, supported by growth in water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities (5.7%), although electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply fell 1.4%. On a monthly basis, industrial output rose 3.2% in May, rebounding from a 6.5% drop in April.

Trading Economics-


The NZX 50 rose 120 points, or 0.9%, to close at a record high of 13,786 on Thursday, recovering from a decline in the previous session, mainly buoyed by gains in financials, industrials, and healthcare. Fresh data boosted sentiment, as New Zealand's manufacturing sector recorded its strongest growth since July 2021 despite facing high fuel prices. However, traders continued to assess Wednesday's RBNZ decision to raise interest rates by 25 bps and signal further tightening ahead to bring inflation back to target. Rising oil prices also capped gains, as inflation concerns raised expectations of further interest rate hikes. Fletcher Building surged 5.6% as the company raised its full-year earnings forecast and reported stronger-than-expected sales; Infratil jumped 3.1%, Ebos Group rose 1.8%, and Fisher & Paykel gained 1.2%. For the week, the index rose 1.2%, marking its second consecutive weekly advance. The market will be closed on Friday for a local holiday.

Trading Economics-


The ASX 200 fell 23 points or 0.3% to end at 8,762 on Thursday, down for the fourth session after U.S. Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund trimmed its 2026 growth forecast for Australia to 1.9% from the previous projection of 2%, adding that consumer price inflation will remain stubbornly high, likely around 4% for 2026. Process industries, non-energy minerals, healthcare, and consumer non-durables weighed, partly offset by strength in consumer durables, energy minerals, retail trade, and industrial services. Heavyweight BHP Group slipped 1.1% while Rio Tinto tumbled 3.3%, weighed by lower copper prices. Gold stocks also fell, with Evolution Mining and Northern Star Resources slipping 1.7% and 0.9%, respectively. Three of four big banks lost between 0.1% and 0.8%.

Trading Economics-


China's total vehicle sales dropped 3.2% year-on-year to 2.81 million units in June 2026, following a 2.1% decline in the previous month, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). New energy vehicle (NEV) sales surged 23.6% year-on-year to 1.643 million units in June, accelerating from 14.4% growth in May, with NEVs accounting for 58.5% of total vehicle sales. For the first half of the year, vehicle sales fell 4.1% year-on-year, compared with an 11.4% increase in the same period last year, while NEV sales advanced 7.3% to 7.438 million units. During the period, NEV sales accounted for 49.6% of total new vehicle sales. However, on a monthly basis, car sales grew by 6.9%. Last year, China's vehicle sales increased 9.4% year-on-year to a record high of 34.4 million units, accelerating from a 4.5% rise in 2024, while NEV sales jumped 28.2%.

Trading Economics-


India’s BSE Sensex rose about 0.3% to close at 76,741.8 on Thursday, bouncing back after suffering a sharp decline the prior session. Investors braced for quarterly earnings from IT major TCS and monitored developments in the Middle East. Pre-earnings updates indicated strong growth for banks and FMCG stocks. On the geopolitical front,Meanwhile, sustained foreign inflows helped offset geopolitical concerns, with overseas investors buying Indian equities for a sixth straight session. Among key movers, Sun Pharma (+2.7%) and Bharti Airtel (+2.2%) led gains amid rotation into defensive plays, including pharma, healthcare and telecom stocks. Techs saw some pressure, with Infosys down 1.8%. TCS fell 0.5% ahead of its earnings report, with analysts expecting a muted performance amid macro uncertainty.

Trading Economics-


US stocks were muted on Thursday as fresh gains for chip producers clashed against an uncertain macroeconomic outlook. The S&P 500 inched higher and the Nasdaq 100 gained over 0.5%, while the Dow marginally extended yesterday's losses. Memory chip producers were sharply higher as markets reconsidered the speculative outlook of AI infrastructure manufacturers. These were magnified by the introduction of SK Hynix ADRs tomorrow, the world's largest memory producer, with reports stating the receipts are seven times oversubscribed. Micron and Sandisk were 3% up. Meanwhile, more traditional sectors remained under pressure after having outperformed the tech sector in July. Elsewhere, Meta dropped 4% amid reports that it will target production of its own AI chip by September.

SPA-

The Kuwait Stock Exchange closed trading today with its general index rising 1.07 points, or 0.01%, to reach 8663.33 points.

The main market index rose 10.88 points, or 0.12%, to reach 8769.01 points.

The premier market index fell 0.96 points, or 0.01%, to reach 9090.48 points.

The Main 50 index rose 4.71 points, or 0.45%, to reach 10000.10 points.

SPA-

The Egyptian Exchange closed higher today.

The market capitalization of listed companies rose by approximately EGP 29 billion, reaching EGP 3.811 trillion, with total trading volume reaching around EGP 60.3 billion. Share trading alone amounted to approximately EGP 9 billion.

The benchmark EGX 30 index climbed 0.54% to 52,311.51 points, while the EGX 70 index for small and medium-sized enterprises rose 1.73% to 16,281.62 points. The broader EGX 100 index also advanced, gaining 1.47% to reach 22,067.78 points.

The Saudi Stock Exchange's main index closed down 45.30 points today, settling at 10,808.43 points, with trading valued at SAR 4.1 billion.

According to the Saudi Press Agency's daily economic bulletin for the Saudi Stock Exchange, 181 million shares were traded. Shares of 91 companies rose, while shares of 153 companies declined.

The top gainers were shares of Misk, Luberef, Avalon Pharma, Aseeg, and Mutakamilah, while the biggest losers were shares of Rasen, Printing & Packaging, Production, Textiles, and Tanmia. The percentage changes ranged between 9.95% and 10%. Americana, Al-Dawaeia, Petro Rabigh, Saudi Aramco, and Al-Waha were the most actively traded stocks by volume, while Al-Dawaeia, Rasen, Saudi Aramco, Al-Rajhi, and Luberef were the most actively traded by value. The Saudi parallel stock index (Nomu) closed today up by (137.06) points, reaching a level of (22731.62) points, with trading valued at (14) million Saudi riyals, and the volume of traded shares exceeded two million shares.

(ONA)-


A webinar titled "Enhancing Trade Relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Bahrain" was held today.

It was jointly organized by Youth Projects "Sharakah" and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion in the Sultanate of Oman and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The webinar aims to support the growth of SMEs and enable them to access new markets by reviewing the trade and investment opportunities available in both countries and introducing the regulations and procedures followed for trade exchange, thereby contributing to building sustainable partnerships and increasing the volume of trade exchange between the two countries.

The importance of the webinar lies in the growing economic relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Bahrain, which underscores the significance of enhancing the participation of SMEs in cross-border trade activities. It also represents a practical opportunity to introduce available investment and trade opportunities, exchange expertise and success stories, and discuss the main challenges facing companies when entering new markets, alongside creating direct communication channels between business owners and institutions supporting the private sector, thereby enhancing trade and investment cooperation opportunities between SMEs in both countries.

The program targets entrepreneurs, as well as at least 70 SMEs from both countries wishing to expand into each other's markets, alongside exporters, importers, entities supporting the SME sector, and relevant investment and trade institutions.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, represented by "Oman Exports," participated with a working paper titled "Export Opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises in Oman and the Mechanism for Entering Foreign Markets." During the session, it reviewed the most prominent export opportunities available to SMEs, mechanisms for accessing foreign markets, and supporting services to enhance the competitiveness of Omani exports.

The webinar is expected to contribute to raising awareness of the trade and investment opportunities available between the two countries, building a network of professional and commercial relations among participating companies, and enhancing their understanding of regulatory, customs, and quality standards requirements. This is in addition to exploring new opportunities for trade and investment partnerships, boosting export opportunities and entry into new markets, and establishing a foundation for future cooperation and joint programs between institutions supporting the private sector in both countries.

(ONA)–


The official price of Oman crude oil for delivery in September 2026 settled at USD 70.23 per barrel today.

Today's price recorded a drop of USD 1.13 from the price of yesterday Wednesday which stood at USD 71.36.

It is noteworthy that the monthly average price of Oman crude oil for delivery in the current month of July stood at USD 102 per barrel, marking a decrease of USD 2.73 compared to the delivery price for last June.

(ONA)-


Muscat Stock Exchange "MSX 30" index today closed at 7,644.45 points, up 6.9 points, or 0.09 percent, from the previous session's close of 7,637.53 points.

Trading value stood at RO 37,532,063, representing a drop of 60.8 percent from RO 95,660,075 recorded in the last session, according to the MSX's report.

Market capitalization increased by 0.096% percent from the previous trading day to approximately RO 38.29 billion.

Non‑Omani investors recorded purchases worth RO 3.150 million, accounting for 8.39 percent of total trading value, while sales reached RO 6.088 million, or 16.22 percent. Net non‑Omani investment consequently decreased by RO 2.938 million, or 7.83 percent.

(ONA)-


The Sultanate of Oman is participating in the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), hosted by the Swiss city of Geneva from 7 to 15 July 2026.

Idris Abdulrahman Al Khanjari, Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, headed the Omani delegation, which included officials from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, as well as Oman Association for Intellectual Property.

Al Khanjari delivered a statement during the assemblies, in which he underscored the importance of the Organization's continued efforts to develop the international intellectual property system to be more efficient, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of member states. He also emphasized the importance of entrenching the principles of transparency, efficiency and equitable geographic representation in the filling of senior and other positions within the Organization, in a manner that reflects its international character.

He expressed the Sultanate of Oman's pride in its close partnership with WIPO, which has resulted in the implementation of programs and initiatives in the areas of strategic planning, capacity-building and training in collaboration with the WIPO Academy, supporting the development of the national intellectual property system.

He reaffirmed the Sultanate of Oman's commitment to continuing constructive cooperation with WIPO and all member states, contributing to the development of a more efficient, inclusive and balanced global intellectual property system that supports innovation and creativity for the achievement of sustainable development for the benefit of all.

During the WIPO Assemblies, the Omani delegation held a meeting with the Director General of WIPO, as well as participating in bilateral meetings with the Director of the Arab Bureau for Intellectual Property, the official responsible for the WIPO Academy, and the official in charge of training and technical cooperation at the World Trade Organization. The meetings explored ways to enhance cooperation with the Sultanate of Oman.

The Assemblies of the WIPO Member States represent the Organization's highest decision-making body, convening annually with the participation of all member states to conduct a comprehensive review of achievements, chart the course for the upcoming phase and assess the work accomplished by WIPO's various committees and unions over the course of the year. The Assemblies discuss an agenda encompassing a number of intellectual property-related topics.

(BNA)-


The Board of Directors of Bahrain Bourse (BHB) held its second meeting for the year, chaired by Yusef Abdulla Al Yusef, Chairman of Bahrain Bourse.



During the meeting, the Board reviewed the key plans and initiatives set for implementation in the coming period, in alignment with the strategic objectives of the Capital Markets Development Plan (2026–2028) – "Elevate". The plan aims to advance Bahrain’s capital market ecosystem, deliver world-class services to all stakeholders, strengthen market competitiveness and align with regional and global standards, foster agility to navigate dynamic market conditions, and expand and diversify investment opportunities locally and regionally.



The Board also discussed the topics on the agenda and reviewed the operational plan progress report as of June 2026, in addition to updates on ongoing strategic projects and initiatives. These included the Investor Relations Guidelines, which aim to enhance transparency levels and enable listed companies to strengthen and develop their relations with investors.



As part of Bahrain Bourse’s commitment to strengthening governance and risk management frameworks, the Board approved updates to internal policies related to risk management to ensure alignment with business requirements and institutional best practices. The Board also endorsed a proposed amendment to the Bourse’s organisational structure to support operational efficiency and enhance its ability to execute strategic priorities during the next phase.

(BNA)-


Bahrain All Share Index has closed at 2,009.72 points, marking a decrease of 4.40 points below the previous closing.



This decrease was due to the drop in the financial sector and the material sector.



Bahrain Islamic Index has closed at 943.76 points, marking a decrease of 3.13 points below the previous closing.



Results indicated that 102 equity transactions took place with a volume of 5,654,364 worth BD 1,880,898.



Investors traded mainly in the consumer discretionary sector, representing 70.78% of the total value of securities traded.

(QNA)-


Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) has announced its participation in SambaNova's $1 billion Series E financing round alongside General Atlantic, Seligman Ventures, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., Capital Group, and other new and existing investors.

QIA also participated in SambaNova's previous funding round in February 2026. The latest investment reflects QIA's continued focus on next-generation technology platforms driving global AI adoption and aligns with its strategy of partnering with innovative companies that offer differentiated technology, strong commercial momentum, and significant long-term growth potential.

In the four months between the two funding rounds, SambaNova's valuation increased from $2 billion to $11 billion, underscoring accelerating global demand for AI infrastructure and the company's growing position in the rapidly evolving sector.

In a statement on Wednesday, QIA said the investment reflects its strategy of identifying high-potential growth-stage investment opportunities and backing companies with advanced technologies, strong business models, and the capacity to generate sustainable long-term value.

SambaNova is a provider of next-generation AI infrastructure, offering a full-stack platform that delivers AI inference capabilities for enterprises, cloud providers, AI laboratories, and service providers worldwide. Its purpose-built infrastructure enables customers to deploy advanced AI models with high performance, lower total cost of ownership, and faster time to value.

The funding will support SambaNova's continued expansion by increasing global deployment capacity, accelerating product innovation, and scaling AI infrastructure for enterprise customers worldwide. The company also plans to expand investment across chips, systems, software, and full-stack AI infrastructure to meet growing demand for AI inference.

(QNA)-


The Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, will convene a special leadership gathering alongside the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), in New York on Sep. 20, 2026.

The gathering, titled QEF: UNGA Special Edition 2026, will bring together global leaders, policymakers, investors and business executives at a pivotal moment for geopolitics and the global economy.

Centered on the theme "Growth on New Terms: Capital, Risk and Resilience", the event will examine how governments, businesses and investors are navigating an increasingly fragmented global landscape.

Convened during one of the most influential weeks on the international calendar, the event will provide a platform for high-level dialogue on the issues shaping global markets, investment flows and the international business landscape.

Building on QEF’s established track record of convening leaders from government, business and finance, the gathering will feature news-making interviews, keynote conversations and discussions with some of the world's most influential decision-makers.

Editorial programming will be anchored around the following areas: "Middle East geopolitical shifts and their impact on the global economy"; "Energy supply and demand outlook"; "Rewired global trade flows: What is the new normal?"; "The global capital rebalance: Where to invest right now"; "AI: Digital promise and physical reality."

Speakers and program details will be announced in the coming months.

The next full edition of the Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg, will take place in Doha in April 2027.

(QNA)-


Qatar National Bank (QNB) Group's net profit rose by 3.2 percent in the first half of 2026 to reach QR 8.670 billion, compared to QR 8.4 billion in the same period of 2025.

Data released by the group and published on the Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) website on Wednesday showed an increase in earnings per share to QR 0.89 for the period ending June 30, 2026, compared to earnings per share of QR 0.85 for the same period of the previous year.

In this context, QNB Group CEO Abdullah Mubarak Al Khalifa said that the Group achieved strong results during the first half of 2026, indicating that despite regional and global challenges, the diversified business model and robust risk management framework enabled the group to continue supporting its customers and delivering sustainable value to the shareholders. QNB Group looks forward with confidence to the prospects of the next phase, with a commitment to continue driving growth across its international business network.

Figures released by the group indicated that total assets rose to QR 1.438 trillion, an increase of 6 percent compared to June 2025.

Loans and advances also rose to QR 1.042 trillion, an increase of 8 percent compared to June 2025, in addition to customer deposits rising to QR 973 billion, an increase of 4 percent compared to the same period of 2025.

(QNA)-


Dukhan Bank's Net Profit has risen by 0.2 percent in H1 2026, reaching QAR 812,758,000, compared to Net Profit QAR 811,291,000 in H1 2025.
According to the Bank's figures published on the Qatar Stock Exchange website Wednesday, Earnings per share (EPS) for the six-month period ending June 30, 2026, remained at QAR 0.149, the same EPS figure for H1 2025.
Dukhan Bank delivered solid financial results in H1 2026, underscoring the Bank's successful execution of its strategic initiatives and building on previously established momentum. Net Profit edged up by 0.2 percent, supported by a robust 7.4 percent increase in net banking income.

(QNA)-


The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday downgraded its global growth forecast for 2026 to 3%, warning of persistent risks posed by the war in the Middle East and potential corrections in market expectations regarding artificial intelligence.
In a statement, IMF explained that the global economy avoided a sharper contraction as a result of the war, as the momentum of demand for the technology sector helped offset the decline in energy supplies linked to the conflict.
It predicted that growth would rebound to 3.4% in 2027, but the figure remains below the average of 3.5% recorded in 2024 and 2025.
The Fund raised its inflation projections for the current year by 0.3% to 4.7% compared with its April forecast but expected inflation to decline to 3.9% next year.
It also noted that energy prices are currently 25% higher than they were before the outbreak of the war on Feb. 28 and are expected to remain elevated, pointing out that the global economy as a whole has so far succeeded in weathering the shock caused by the war better than had been feared.
IMF further revealed positive expectations for energy exporters and countries that are closely integrated with the technology sector. However, it projected lower growth rates for the economies of commodity-importing countries that are not well positioned to benefit from developments in artificial intelligence.

(QNA)-


Tunisia signed on Wednesday a $312 million loan agreement with the Arab Monetary Fund to boost economic and financial stability in the country.
The loan will be allocated to backing the economic and financial reform program implemented by the Tunisian government and to provide balance-of-payments support.
The agreement reflects the continued cooperation between Tunisia and the Arab Monetary Fund as well as confidence in Tunisia's economic and financial reform path. It is part of broader efforts to enhance the Tunisian economy's ability to withstand external challenges and improve its stability indicators.

(QNA)-


The main indices on the US Wall Street stock exchange closed mixed at the end of trading today.
The S&P 500 fell 22.57 points, or 0.30 percent, to close at 7481.28. The Nasdaq Composite rose 52.52 points, or 0.19 percent, to close at 25868.29. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 592.43 points, or 1.12 percent, to 52,332.72.

(QNA)-


China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, rose 1 percent year on year in June, official data showed Thursday.
The core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices, on a month-on-month basis, CPI edged down 0.3 percent, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
The data also showed that China's producer price index, which measures costs for goods at the factory gate, went up 4.1 percent year on year in June

(QNA)-


Oil prices fell by over 1% Thursday amid escalating tensions and developments in the region.
Brent crude futures dropped $1.03, or 1.3%, to $76.99 per barrel.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures also declined, falling 88 cents, or 1.2%, to $72.64.
Both crude oils hit their highest levels since June 22 on Wednesday, and the decline came after Brent and WTI crude rose by more than a dollar per barrel in post-settlement trading, following the US' announcement of new strikes on targets in Iran.

(QNA)-


Japanese stocks closed higher on Thursday.
The Nikkei 225 index climbed 1.4% to close at 67,743.85, trimming some gains after rising as much as 2.4% earlier, following three consecutive days of losses.
The broader Topix index rose 0.4% to 4,020.37.
Semiconductor-related shares anchored the Nikkei’s rise, with flash memory chipmaker Kioxia surging 8.3% and chip testing equipment maker Advantest jumping 5.9%, while chip equipment manufacturer Tokyo Electron advanced 5.5%.
The biggest percentage losers in the index included Mitsubishi Materials Corp, down 6.9%, and Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd, down 3.5%.

(QNA)-


Gold prices rose today after hitting a near one-week low earlier in the session.
Spot gold climbed 0.8 percent to $4,107.69 an ounce.
US gold futures for August delivery also rose 0.9 percent to $4,117.30.
Among other precious metals, spot silver gained 1.5 percent to $59.14 an ounce, platinum rose 2.2 percent to $1,611.83, and palladium climbed 2.5 percent to $1,244.46.

(QNA)-


The price of Kuwaiti oil rose by USD 4.36 to USD 76.03 per barrel in Wednesday's trading, compared to USD 71.67 pb in the previous session, according to figures released by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC).
In global markets, brent crude futures increased by USD 3.86 to USD 78.02 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up by USD 3.08 to USD 73.52 pb.

(QNA)-


The value of real estate traded through sale contracts registered with the Real Estate Registration Department at the Ministry of Justice totaled QR 482,772,733 during the period from June 28 to July 2.
The total value of sale contracts listed in the real estate bulletin for residential units during the same period reached QR 82,522,865, bringing the total value of real estate trading during the week to QR 565.295 million.
According to the department's weekly bulletin, the properties traded included vacant land, houses, residential buildings, a residential compound, a mixed-use commercial and residential building, a mixed-use administrative and residential building, and residential units.
Sales were concentrated in the municipalities of Doha, Al Rayyan, Al Wakrah, Umm Salal, Al Khor and Al Thakhira, Al Daayen and Al Shamal, as well as in the areas of Lusail 69, The Pearl Island, Al Kharaej, Ghar Thuaileb, Al Qatifiyah, Al Mashaf, Al Wukair, and Umm Al Amad.
The value of real estate traded through sale contracts registered with the Real Estate Registration Department totaled QR 383.028 million during the period from June 21 to June 25.

(QNA)-


Qatar Tourism participated at the 30th Annual Economist Government Roundtable, held in Athens, Greece, from 8 to 10 July.
HE Saad bin Ali Al Kharji, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Chair of the Board of Directors of Visit Qatar, represented Qatar Tourism in the forum.
Inaugurated by HE Constantine An. Tassoulas, President of the Hellenic Republic, the forum brought together senior officials, business leaders, decision-makers and international experts from around the world to discuss ways of strengthening international cooperation and the role of infrastructure and innovation in supporting sustainable development.
During the forum, His Excellency took part in the main panel discussion, "Connecting Regions, Communities and Countries – Promoting Resilience and Prosperity," alongside a distinguished group of international leaders. The session explored the role of international cooperation in driving sustainable growth, strengthening resilience, and building economies better able to withstand global changes.
His Excellency highlighted Qatar's experience in strengthening the resilience of the tourism sector through effective crisis response and the integration of efforts across various entities, underscoring how resilience has become a critical pillar in sustaining investor and traveller confidence, as well as a key driver of the sector's sustainable growth. He also emphasised Qatar's position as a global hub, seamlessly connecting travellers across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East through a leading air connectivity network and strategic international partnerships that enhance travel flow and connectivity between markets.
Qatar Tourism's participation reflects its continued commitment to strengthening its presence on the world's leading global platforms, reinforcing strategic partnerships, and showcasing its vision for developing a sustainable tourism sector to global policymakers, investors, and business leaders. The forum also provided an opportunity to highlight Qatar's key strengths, including its tourism infrastructure and promising investment landscape, reinforcing its position as a trusted tourism destination equipped to meet the demands of the future.

(QNA)-


The Global Carbon Council (GCC) signed a strategic Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with CGS International Holdings Limited, a leading financial services group with strong institutional market, investment banking and carbon financial capabilities, and Verdana HK Limited, a Hong Kong-based technology and digital infrastructure provider for carbon market operations, during the Asia Climate Summit (ACS) 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
In a statement on Thursday, GCC said the partnership establishes a Hong Kong-based carbon register and independent carbon finance facilitation platform for GCC-approved projects across China and the Hong Kong region, strengthening carbon market infrastructure while creating more predictable pathways for climate finance and supporting the future climate finance flows towards operationalization of Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.
The collaboration comes at a time when governments and market participants across Asia are accelerating efforts to operationalize Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and strengthen trusted carbon market infrastructure. It also aligns with Hong Kong's ambition to reinforce its position as an international green finance and climate finance center by enhancing connectivity between domestic, voluntary and compliance carbon markets.
For many years, GCC has consistently maintained that predictable and transparent carbon finance is fundamental to accelerating climate action globally. While demand for high-integrity carbon credits continues to grow, project developers often face uncertainty in accessing reliable carbon finance and connecting with institutional buyers. Through this partnership, GCC is taking a practical step towards addressing these challenges by endorsing a dedicated carbon register and independent carbon finance facilitation platform for GCC-approved projects in China and the Hong Kong region. The platform is designed to improve access to project finance and carbon finance, strengthen investor confidence, and create greater predictability for project developers participating in high-integrity carbon markets. GCC shall maintain its neutral and robust regulatory and facilitation role while letting the market actors take the benefit of independent carbon finance facility operated by the consortium of CGS International Holdings Limited (CGI) and Verdana HK Limited.
Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Yousef M. Alhorr, Founding Chairman of the Global Carbon Council (GCC), said, "For many years, GCC has consistently maintained that predictable carbon finance is fundamental to accelerating climate action. This collaboration translates that vision into practical implementation by establishing a dedicated carbon register and independent carbon finance facilitation platform for GCC-approved projects in China and Hong Kong. While the platform will initially support voluntary carbon markets, it has been designed with the future in mind. By leveraging GCC's Carbon Market Infrastructure, we are creating the foundation for more efficient and transparent Article 6.2 implementation, enabling trusted climate finance pathways that support governments, businesses and project developers in delivering meaningful climate action."
Under the agreement, GCC will provides the internationally recognized carbon standard, governance framework, dedicated carbon register and Carbon Market Infrastructure (CMI) to support the establishment of the HKCRSB. This will facilitate stakeholder engagement and client services across Hong Kong, China and the wider region.
Fan Minfei, Chairman of CGS International Holdings Limited, said, "Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to connect international capital with climate action. Through our collaboration with GCC and Verdana HK, we are building a platform that enhances access to climate finance, connects institutional investors with climate action and high-integrity carbon projects, and strengthens Hong Kong's role as a regional gateway for trusted carbon markets and sustainable finance."
CGS International will contribute its expertise in fundraising, institutional engagement and investor outreach to support the development of the platform, while Verdana HK Limited will establish and operate the Hong Kong Carbon Register and Services Body (HKCRSB), providing registry operations and carbon finance facilitation services. Together, the partners will support project onboarding, registry account management, institutional buyer engagement, carbon credit transfer and retirement services, reporting workflows, and project finance facilitation for GCC-approved projects.
Asad Sultan, Chief Executive Officer of Verdana HK Limited, said, "Digital infrastructure is the backbone of modern carbon markets. By establishing a dedicated carbon register and carbon finance facilitation platform for GCC-approved projects, we are creating the institutional and technological foundation required to improve market transparency, streamline carbon market transactions and support future interoperability with Article 6 and other international carbon market mechanisms."
The platform will initially support voluntary carbon market activities by facilitating project registration, carbon finance, institutional buyer access and registry services for GCC-approved projects. Looking ahead, the partners intend to leverage GCC's fully digitized Carbon Market Infrastructure (CMI) to enable interoperable registry systems supporting Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. This will facilitate more efficient carbon finance, improve transparency in carbon market transactions and create trusted pathways for the transfer of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) in accordance with applicable national policies and international frameworks.
The collaboration also establishes Hong Kong as a regional gateway for GCC-approved projects across Greater China, connecting project developers, financial institutions, corporates and investors while expanding access to international climate finance. By bringing together GCC's internationally recognized carbon standard and digital carbon market infrastructure with CGI's financial expertise and Verdana HK's technology and implementation capabilities, the partnership creates an integrated ecosystem that combines carbon market infrastructure with carbon finance facilitation.
The partnership builds on GCC's growing presence in Asia. GCC currently supports climate projects across more than 50 countries and has received over 150 project submissions from China, representing the potential issuance of more than 500 million carbon credits over a 10-year crediting period. The launch of HKSRSB is likely to accelerate climate actions across China, Hong Kong and the region as well as globally taking into account the futuristic climate finance via Article 6.2 implementation using GCC's Carbon Market Infrastructure. This growing project pipeline reinforces the need for dedicated carbon market infrastructure and carbon finance facilitation to connect high-integrity projects with international climate finance.

(QNA)-


The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) index ended Thursday's session down 85.58 points, or 0.84%, at 10,090.57 points.
A total of 110,559,177 shares were traded, with a total value of QR 292, 028,948.030, through 24,290 transactions across all sectors.
Shares of 11 companies advanced, while 41 companies declined and one company closed unchanged.
The market capitalization stood at QR 609,317,359,405.676 at the close of trading, down from QR 614,141,218,482.338 in the previous session.

(QNA)-


Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney discussed on Thursday ways to enhance industrial and mining cooperation and expand investment partnerships between the two countries.
The two sides also reviewed opportunities for developing cooperation in advanced industries, which would contribute to achieving common interests and supporting the economic partnership between the two countries. They emphasized the importance of broadening the horizons of strategic partnership in the mining and minerals sectors to support the economic development goals of both nations.

Insider Trading Executions: Trading Session: 8/ 7 /2026
Company Name: Union Pharmacist Company For Medical Services and Investment
Position: Insider
Transaction: Buy
Number of Shares: 3327

Insider Trading Executions: Trading Session: 8/ 7 /2026
Company Name: Fawry For Banking Technology And Electronic Payment
Position: Related Parties for Insider
Transaction: Buy
Number of Shares: 50000

Insider Trading Executions: Trading Session: 8/ 7 /2026
Company Name: Nozha International Hospital
Position: Major shareholder
Transaction: Buy
Number of Shares: 66388

Insider Trading Executions: Trading Session: 8/ 7 /2026
Company Name: Pyramisa Hotels
Position: Insider
Transaction: Sell
Number of Shares: 6000

Insider Trading Executions: Trading Session: 8/ 7 /2026
Company Name: Pyramisa Hotels
Position: Related Parties for Insider
Transaction: Buy
Number of Shares: 130

Insider Trading Executions: Trading Session: 8/ 7 /2026
Company Name: Pyramisa Hotels
Position: Insider
Transaction: Sell
Number of Shares: 2000

Insider Trading Executions: Trading Session: 8/ 7 /2026
Company Name: ARAB Developers Holding
Position: Insider
Transaction: Buy
Number of Shares: 30000000

Insider Trading Executions: Trading Session: 8/ 7 /2026
Company Name: EGX 30 INDEX ETF
Position: Major shareholder
Transaction: Buy
Number of Shares: 70000

Insider Trading Executions: Trading Session: 8/ 7 /2026
Company Name: TMG Holding
Position: Insider
Transaction: Sell
Number of Shares: 35000

Insider Trading Executions: Trading Session: 8/ 7 /2026
Company Name: Prime Holding
Position: Insider
Transaction: Buy
Number of Shares: 100000

Insider Trading Executions: Trading Session: 8/ 7 /2026
Company Name: Heliopolis Housing
Position: Insider
Transaction: Sell
Number of Shares: 60000