Egypt's foreign currency reserves could be gone in six months, posing a large risk to the Egyptian economy, an Egyptian banking official told Youm7. He said that a drop would lead to an increase in inflation, depreciation of the Egyptian pound, and a larger budget deficit. The source said that there are many reasons behind the drop. He pointed to Egypt's payment of external debts, and tourism and investment hit by security fears. He also said recent judicial rulings to renationalize privatized companies are a threat to reserves. The source feared foreign investors would turn to international arbitration against the Egyptian government. The source demanded the Egyptian government take serious steps to contain the problem. He suggested organizing an international conference of organizations, businessmen, and international experts to draft a plan to save Egypt's economy. Egypt's international reserves dropped U.S $1 billion (6 billion EGP) in September to $24 billion (143 billion EGP), according to the Egyptian Central Bank.