Egypt's 21-karat gold prices climbed 4.74% to EGP 7,175 per gram by week's end, driven by a global rally and U.S. dollar fluctuations against the Egyptian pound. Ehab Wassef, head of the Gold and Precious Metals Division at the Federation of Egyptian Industries, said the local market was directly influenced by international trends and geopolitical tensions.
Gold prices in Egypt surged sharply over the past week, with 21-karat gold—the most traded locally—reaching a weekly high of EGP 7,300 per gram before settling at EGP 7,175, up from an opening of EGP 6,850.
Wassef stated that Egypt's market tracks international prices closely, especially amid ongoing geopolitical tensions boosting uncertainty. Exchange rate swings, with the U.S. dollar hovering around EGP 55 before dipping below EGP 54, directly impacted local pricing.
The Central Bank of Egypt kept interest rates unchanged, aligning with expectations amid global inflation pressures. Internationally, gold briefly pushed toward $4,750 per ounce but pulled back modestly.
Locally, 21-karat gold struggled to hold above EGP 7,200 amid rising selling pressure, Wassef noted. He advised investors to watch global trends and exchange rates carefully amid volatility.