Finance Ministry denies Samurai bonds are happening this week: The Finance Ministry has yet to make a decision on the timing, value, or currency for Egypt’s first Asian bond issuance, the ministry said in a statement. The decision will depend on the interest generated at the ongoing Asia roadshow as well as the recommendations of the advisers on the issuance. The statement comes in response to a Reuters story out on Sunday that claimed that Egypt will issue USD 2 bn worth of JPY-denominated bonds in the coming week. The report cited two unnamed government sources. Finance Minister Mohamed Maait had said on Sunday during a conference that his ministry had received Cabinet clearance to issue up to USD 7 bn of FX-denominated bonds in 1Q2019.

From the Asia roadshow: Vice Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk, and Assistant Minister for Capital Market Operations Khaled Abdel Rahman have kicked off the Asia-focused roadshow, which Maait said earlier this week he will be joining. Next stops will be GCC countries in early February and then Hong Kong and Taiwan by the end of the month. Maait and his team previously met with some 50 Asian investors and officials during on an earlier nondeal roadshow, according to the statement.