Egypt's Demand for Currency Devaluation Grows Louder and Longer As Crisis Approaches

EGYPT's Demand for Currency Devaluation Grows Louder and Longer As Crisis Approaches

Some Wall Street banks have warned that the pressure on the currency has increased and the central bank may allow further depreciation.

According to Citigroup, demand for the dollar is growing and will not abate unless currency flexibility and investment flows are strengthened. Half-measures weren't enough, trading stalled and Egyptian government bonds underperformed.

Market sentiment also reflects Egypt's review of her October pledge to move to a floating exchange rate, which helped secure her $3 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund. However, the pound has held a brief lead for several weeks as the domestic inflation outlook remains the focus of officials, especially after rising fuel prices and just days before the holy month of Ramadan. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. economist Farooq Sousa said in a note that trading was "relatively unchanged" since the January devaluation "despite clear signs of continued foreign exchange liquidity constraints." said it is putting pressure on the currency that is being used.

Ahead of the first review of his IMF program this month, derivatives markets have seen the pound's decline deepen despite three currency devaluations in the past year that have nearly halved its value. indicates that

Currencies 1- and 12-month contracts in the non-deliverable futures market posted 10th week losses in the five days to Friday. This is the longest data streak of its kind, dating back to 2007.

As another indicator of devaluation expectations, Commercial International Bank's depository receipts are trading at a 14% discount to Cairo shares on the London Stock Exchange.

Egypt will have to loosen its grip on the pound "sooner or later", said Edwin Gutierrez, head of emerging market sovereign debt at Abdon in London. "It's still a very regulated currency, and funds don't want to see it, or emerging market bond managers don't want it," Gutierrez said. “Equilibrium is for weaker currencies that cause higher inflation because they do not receive capital inflows.”

The Arab world's most populous country is again struggling to clear billions of dollars of imports blocked at its ports.This has created an unmet demand for foreign currency and prompted a Russian invasion of Ukraine. The impact on one of the world's largest buyers of commodities such as wheat has worsened.

The current backlog is estimated at about $4 billion, up from just $2.5 billion in January, according to Citigroup. Foreign currency deposits in January saw their biggest rise since July, according to last week's report. Amid investor panic and doubts about the progress of asset sales, the government said it had launched proposals for two military-related companies this week and was planning proposals for four more large companies.

Inflation far exceeded expectations in February, which could force central banks to raise rates by up to 300 basis points at their meeting later this month, according to Goldman Sachs.

In February, policymakers defied most analyst expectations when they said they would leave borrowing costs unchanged for the first time since September and assess the impact of an overall 800 basis point hike in 2022. 

A weaker sterling poses an inflationary risk, but could help ease pressure on Egypt's balance of payments and make its cash shortage more manageable.

In the non-delivery futures market, the pound's one-month contract has fallen about 4% to 32.6 on the dollar since his late February, while the 12-month contract is at about 38.

Non-deliverable futures contracts allow investors to value exchange rates and cover the difference between the agreed rate and the actual dollar price.

The pound was trading near 31 against the dollar on Monday. It has fallen about 2% since late January, less than the losses of the Russian ruble, Argentine peso, Zambian kwacha and South Korean won. According to Citigroup, Egypt's currency's real effective exchange rate is 23% lower than its average over the past decade. 

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QFC, R3 Sign Agreement to Support Qatar's Fintech Industry

QFC, R3 Sign Agreement to Support Qatar's Fintech Industry 

 The Qatar Financial Center Authority (QFCA) signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with R3, a global leader in enterprise distributed ledger (DLT) technology and services, an initiative to accelerate the development of Qatar's financial technology industry and encourage jobs to support Common interests together.

Under the terms of the deal, QFC and R3 will work together to create a potential experimental environment for commercial banks and fintechs in Qatar.

QFCA Chief Executive Officer Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida said, "The partnership also aims to promote education and training on asset digitization and use of (DLT)".

The two organizations formed a working group to oversee the new regulatory paradigm and support QFC's rollout of his DLT at the national level. David E. Rutter, CEO and co-founder of R3, said QFC has already made great strides in scaling fintech development in Qatar and this collaboration will create an environment that fosters innovation. said to be even more helpful.

“We look forward to QFC leveraging our experience and expertise to help grow Qatar-based fintech companies.”

Qatar's financial technology industry has grown rapidly in recent years due to the drive for digital transformation, government support for fintech innovation, and growing interest in digital banking and Islamic fintech. 

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Southern Californians are Buying Up Most of the Real Estate South of the Border

Southern Californians are buying up most of the real estate south of the border 

 Half of the properties sold in the city of Tijuana are purchased by investors, most of them from Southern California, by the Mexican Real Estate Professionals Association of Tijuana, or AMPI as it is known south of Tijuana. And looking for income-generating real estate. national borders.

“Half of Tijuana's residential property buyers are investors who intend to rent out their property,” said Carlos Bustamante Mora, president of the association. "Or, like you're renting an apartment or house, they plan to live in the property for a while and then rent it out later."

Most properties for sale today are apartments or condos, Bustamante said.

“Because of Tijuana’s topography and lack of space, there aren’t many construction projects building houses across the city because of the high cost of land, so all projects now include vertical buildings,” he said. said.

Nearly half of Tijuana's homebuyers are from Southern California, according to Bustamante. Inventory shortages and high demand have pushed Tijuana property prices higher.

By the end of 2022, the average apartment price will be set at his $250,000, up 11% from the previous year, according to AMPI.

AMPI also reports that housing costs north of the border have fallen since late spring 2022, but not in Tijuana. 

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Will Your City Favor Buyers or Sellers? Real Estate Creates Predictions for 2023 

Will Your City Favor Buyers or Sellers? Real Estate Creates Predictions for 2023 

A recent analysis of the 2023 housing market suggests that the days of 40-person bidding wars and six-figure oversupply bidding may be over.

Average home prices across the country will rise by 17.6% in 2021 and another 10% in 2022. These price spikes in recent years have delighted home sellers, but are now being held back by high mortgage rates.

“Since mortgage rates doubled from January to October [2022], average prices have fallen every month and are likely to continue falling in many markets across the country in 2023, prompting home sellers to is likely to become less profitable," Rick told Property Data Sharga Tracker Atom Associated Press. His Knock, a mortgage lender, has created a buy-and-sell market index to assess the state of the housing market in 100 major cities across the United States. A year ago, all of his 100 markets analyzed by Knock were preferred sellers, the company said. At the beginning of 2023, 13 markets were buyer-first, 43 were neutral, and 44 were seller-first. Knock predicts that over the next 12 months, more markets will shift to buyer preferences.


His sole North Carolina city reportedly remains an exception. Fayetteville, with a population of about 200,000, is the only market not moving to buyers in 2022.


2023's top markets for buyers will be:

1. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas

2. Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, Nevada

3. Salt Lake City, Utah

4. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Arizona

5. Colorado Springs, Colorado

6. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, Georgia

7. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida

8. Tucson, Arizona

9. Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado

10. Killeen-Temple, Texas

11. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, North Carolina-South Carolina

12. Jacksonville, Florida

13. Memphis, Tennessee-Mississippi-Arkansas

14. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, Michigan

15. Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa

Even for markets where things are growing more favorable for buyers, Knock had some words of caution:

“Home shoppers will not see significant price declines in a majority of the 100 largest housing markets. Prices will decline, mostly by small amounts, in the next 12 months just in 16 large markets.”

The top markets for sellers will be:

1. Fayetteville, North Carolina

2. Columbia, South Carolina

3. Springfield, Massachusetts

4. Rochester, New York

5. Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, Connecticut

6. Harrisburg-Carlisle, Pennsylvania

7. New Haven-Milford, Connecticut

8. Syracuse, New York

9. Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, Pennsylvania-New Jersey

10. Albuquerque, New Mexico

11. Milwaukee-Waukesha, Wisconsin

12. Winston-Salem, North Carolina

13. Salisbury, Maryland

14. Portland-South Portland, Maine

15. Providence-Warwick, Rhode Island-Massachusetts

The report includes a forecast for 100 real estate markets around the country.

To create its Buyer-Seller Market, considering these six data points in each market:

the average sale-to-asking price ratio, the number of homes sold, number of active listings, the median days a home sits on market, the median sale price and the monthly home inventory.  

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Indian Real Estate has Emerged as a Favorable investment Option Given the Volatility of the Market

Indian Real Estate has Emerged as a Favorable investment Option Given the Volatility of the Market

 Indian real estate is becoming the asset of choice for an increasing number of investors in both India and NRI amid rising inflationary pressures, market volatility and stock market stagnation. It is seen as a good choice due to its yield and the potential for further price increases across India, both in metropolitan areas and other cities. Rapid urbanization and population growth are driving demand for affordable housing in major Indian cities.

India's growth story is attracting Venture Capital (VC) interest in all segments of the Indian real estate sector, as property prices across India are already set to rise by 10-30% in 2022. A recent survey conducted by CII found that 59% of respondents are more likely to invest in real estate, while only 28% of them prefer to invest in the Indian stock market. Nagpur, Coimbatore and Indore have the highest year-on-year rental demand, driving the growth of the Indian commercial real estate sector. This expansion is also reflected in the office rental market, which is expected to grow by 10-15% next year. Some of the factors influencing this trend are:

Growth of Social Infrastructure in Tier II and Tier III Cities

Key trends are the increasing demand for modern office space and the emerging trend of urban and semi-urban living. Additionally, the country's expanding e-commerce sector is boosting demand for storage options, boosting the market. Additionally, increased use of telecommunications services, implementation of 5G standards, and data localization are increasing the demand for data storage options. This will have a positive effect on the demand for resilient data center infrastructure, enhancing market growth.


Increased adoption of hybrid models in 2022 has significantly increased office space in major cities. According to the study, the net absorption rate of the office market in the top seven cities including Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad will reach 38.25 million square feet in 2022, a three-year high. Moreover, the net absorption rate in 2022 increased by 3.1% from his pre-pandemic five-year average (2015-2019), demonstrating the resilience of the Indian office market.

Increase in NRI investment

Domestic and foreign investors have benefited from this growth, especially in their home cities, with millennials making up about half of these investors. Investor interest is growing not only in commercial real estate, but also in ultra-luxury condominiums and vacation homes. A stronger dollar against the rupee provides investors with an incentive to increase purchasing power and enter the domestic market. Recent proptech platforms have contributed to this growing interest by revolutionizing the real estate industry and enabling seamless onboarding of individuals regardless of their geographic location. This will continue to attract non-resident Indians to the Indian property market.

Changes in the policy environment

Apart from that, various initiatives by the Government of India such as investments in smart city projects and mortgage interest tax exemption are expected to create lucrative business opportunities for domestic industrial investors. By 2030, demand for premium Grade A office properties in India is expected to reach 1.2 billion square feet. This expansion is driven by several factors, including high return on investment, increasing NRI and FDI investment, and increasing government initiatives.

Increased demand for ultra-luxury units and vacation homes

Rising household incomes and an increasing number of Indians among the world's richest individuals have resulted in a booming market for ultra-luxury residential real estate, with demand often outstripping supply. Even in markets that historically had a healthy pipeline of such units, such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata, consumers are looking for projects with amenities comparable to those offered by international developers. This changing consumption habits has prompted Indian property developers to launch new luxury residential projects to cater to this growing domestic investor group.

Other important factors such as the rise of India as a global IT powerhouse, the growth of the e-commerce industry, etc. will significantly increase the demand for space such as data centers and sophisticated warehouses. Commercial space will increase in Tier II and Tier III cities in 2023, acting as an important catalyst for job creation. In 2022, the combined office, warehouse, residential and retail sectors will attract a total of $5.1 billion in private equity investment. This shows the industry's optimism for industry growth.

However, the developer community should try to achieve the same construction and design standards as the developed world. The focus will be on raising capital through additional channels such as real estate investment trusts (REITs) to attract more Indians to actively invest in the country's real estate industry.

As REITs offer proportional ownership of income-generating real estate investments, more Indian developers are setting up their own REITs, educating investors on their long-term value creation potential, and educating investors on the process. should seek more investment in This will attract more foreign investment and leverage India's large population to establish a sustainable financing model that will propel the Indian real estate industry to new heights in 2023. 

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5 Reasons Why Real Estate are Great Investment 

5 Reasons Why Real Estate are Great Investment 

Real estate offers better returns than the low volatility stock market.

Historically, the risk of loss of property is minimized by the time the property is held. As the market improves, so does the value of homes, creating wealth as a result. Stock market risk never changes and there are many factors outside of your control that can adversely affect your investment. Because real estate is a tangible asset, you have more control over your investment. You can use it to benefit from multiple sources of income while enjoying capital appreciation.

Real estate is expensive.

Your land will always have value and your home will always have value. Other investments may have little or no tangible assets, such as: B. A stock that could go to zero or a new car that loses value over time. Homeowners insurance protects your investment in real estate, so get the best insurance available so that your assets are protected if the worst happens.

Real estate values ​​always go up over time.

History continues to prove that the longer you hold onto a property, the more money you make.The real estate market has always recovered from past bubbles that caused home prices to fall. For those who have continued to invest during these uncertain times, prices are back to normal and price appreciation is back in the right direction. Real estate investors are now enjoying windfall returns in the best performing markets. In fact, over the past year, we've been highly rated in every state across the country, and some of my clients in the Los Angeles market have made millions of dollars in profits in less than a year.

Investing in real estate can also diversify your portfolio.

If you've ever talked to a financial planner about investing, you're keenly aware of the importance of diversification. Diversifying your portfolio spreads your risk. Real estate always acts as a safe physical asset, reducing portfolio risk. Many people have made a fortune by investing in real estate alone.

Last but not least, there are many tax benefits to investing in real estate.

Tax deductions are available for mortgage interest, investment property cash flow, business expenses and expenses, property taxes, insurance and depreciation (even if the property appreciates), and other benefits. increase. The end of the year is a very busy time for real estate as we want to take advantage of the many tax benefits before the end of the year!

Investing in real estate is not only a safe haven, it is an investment that will provide years of fun, happiness and precious memories that will last a lifetime.  

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Limited Real Estate Options for New U.S. Factory 

Limited Real Estate Options for New U.S. Factory 

 The downside to the US factory boom is real estate.

The country has enough land but lacks "megasites" to build large, state-of-the-art factories, Reuters reported.

For example, a Volkswagen scout said Motors was considering about 75 plots to build a multi-billion dollar plant, but he wanted a 1,600-acre South Carolina site instead of a 2,000-acre site. calmed down.

Scout was not alone. Some companies are looking for a location of at least 1,000 acres that is accessible, has transportation, is close to a skilled workforce, and has access to cheap green energy. The boom is largely due to government stimulus measures, concerns over supply chains in countries such as China, and a shift to new energy technologies, the outlet reports.

The Biden administration has focused on the issue so far, but also says it's a good one.

"People are finding places to build," a White House official told Reuters. "I don't think I've ever heard of a company abandoning a project because they couldn't find a place."

The plans to build the factory may not have been scrapped, but the location was changed.

For example, Rivian Automotive changed plans to build a $5 billion factory outside Fort Worth, Texas, in Georgia, citing a lack of transportation infrastructure. Some have specific requirements. Like Intel, his $20 billion semiconductor factory in Ohio doesn't need to be too close to railroad tracks because vibration is annoying.

Another issue is power. Many large factories, such as battery factories, require large amounts of power.

"Some of these projects require hundreds of megawatts," Didi Caldwell, president of consulting firm Global Location Strategies, told Reuters. “At the same time, we are shutting down a lot of coal-fired power plants.”

At least some states, including Michigan, South Carolina, Virginia, and North Carolina, are doing what they can to build an industrial base in the near future. It's not easy because with environmental regulations as well as local pushback making it difficult to create them.

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