The Egyptian stock market gained on Thursday, driven by foreign purchases and gains for large companies like the International Trade Bank and Orascom Telecom. The Egypt's large-company stock index, the EGX30, rose 0.25 percent to 4673 points. The medium and small companies' index EGX70 rose 0.96 percent, and the EGX100 rose 0.29 percent. Traded securities were valued at 330 million EGP (U.S. $55 million). Egyptian investors were responsible for 72.12 percent of transactions Thursday, resulting in a net sale 7.4 million EGP (U.S. $1.2 million). Foreign transactions made up 20.2 percent of trades, chalking up a net purchase of 903.6 million EGP (U.S. $151.6 million). Arab investors made up 6.64 percent of trades, selling a net of 8.3 million EGP (U.S. $1.4 million). 37.6 percent of trades came from institutions, which sold a snet of 5.9 million EGP (U.S. $1 million). Individual investors accounted for 62.4 percent of transactions, also purchasing 5.9 million EGP. Most major companies' shares rose Thursday, including: Agwaa by1.2 percent, Orascom Telecom by 1.4 percent, Talaat Mostafa by 2.04 percent, Ezz Steel by 1.2 percent, al-Baraka Bank by 4.09 percent, and Commercial International Bank by 1.7 percent. Big winners were the Arab Gathering for Investments, which rose by 9.4 percent, and Saaed General Construction by 29 percent.
