It’s interest rate week: The central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee will meet on Thursday to review key interest rates. The meeting comes as inflation inched down fractionally in October, but nine out of 10 economists polled by Reuters believe the decreased is not yet substantial enough to warrant a change in interest rates from their current 18.75% for deposits and 19.75% for lending. CI Capital’s Hany Farahat tells the newswire that he sees the MPC cutting rates by 100 bps in its December meeting “after inflation figures of the current month drop to the high teens following the adjustment of the base effect.” Pharos’ Angus Blair recommended, however, that rates are cut this month since inflation seems to be on a steady comedown. “Cuts in the interest rate will subsequently improve private sector sentiment and investment and help to boost employment, and which will also help to bring down the government’s interest payments and meet its budget deficit target,” he said.

The US embassy in Cairo and its consulate in Alexandria are hosting activities aimed at engaging young Egyptians with an interest in entrepreneurship from 13 to 19 November as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week.