Follow the latest in economic news and developments about the Arab transition countries. 

The Egyptian Finance Ministry is planning to borrow EGP 63 billion from the banks and the domestic market through various maturities of treasury bills and bonds, compared to EGP 76.5 billion, an actual cost of borrowing during October 2013. The Ministry has significantly focused on short –term treasury bills which reached EGP 48 billion within November in its timetable, in order to finance the budget-deficit that exceeded EGP 20 billion monthly, in addition paying earlier benefits, worth 80 percent of the target month. [Amwal Al Ghad]

Egypt’s central bank kept its interest rates on hold as expected on Thursday, as the government strives to stimulate the economy while keeping inflation in check. The economy grew 2.1 percent in the year to June 30, tepid for an emerging economy and far too slow to make an impact on youth unemployment, estimated at roughly 13.3 percent, in the Arab world’s most populous state. Inflation picked up to just over 10 percent in September after a dip to 9.7 percent in August. [Reuters]

The government decided on Thursday to lower fuel prices by around 2 percent as of Friday. Under a decision by Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Hatem Halawani, one liter of unleaded 90-octane gasoline will be sold at JD 0.810, compared to JD 0.825 in October. The new prices will continue through November 30. [Jordan Times]

The Executive Board of the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT), which met on October 30, 2013, noted the slight reduction of the deficit of liquidity in October 2013, which has reduced the interventions of Central Bank on the money market to MTD 4,392 until October 29 from MTD 4,715 in the month of September. The BCT also noted that the average interest rate on the market declined to 4.66 percent during the same period from 4.72 percent. [AM]
 

Also of Interest: 
Report/Opinion: Year of Morsi ‘cost Egyptians a fortune’ | The Times
Opinion: Jordan’s economic imbalance | Al-Monitor
Libya oil exports restricted, efforts to end crisis falter | Reuters
AKSAL drives Morocco’s retail revolution | World Finance
Opinion: Tunisia’s economic crisis to continue | Al Monitor
Yemen: Entrepreneurs play a key role in fighting malnutrition | Mercy Corp