CAIRO: Egypt s main index shed 1.8 percent, its fourth straight decline, as investors took profits after recent year-highs, traders say.
The index was down early in the day as blue chips declined, hitting an inter-day low of 6,232 points, and improved only slightly in the afternoon to end at 6,283 points.
Blue chip firms were heavily traded. Investment bank EFG-Hermes ended down 4.7 percent and Orascom Telecom pared sharp early losses to end 1.6 percent lower.
Orascom Construction also clawed back some of its early declines, ending down 0.5 percent.
The rally was very sharp two weeks ago, said Fadi Yehia, a trader at Naeem Brokerage. If we break 6,000 (points) it s going to be critical.
Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals also traded heavily and declined 4.8 percent. -Reuters
