It was a mixed bag on talk shows yesterday, with many of the talking heads cheering Morocco’s Lions historic World Cup win against Spain, and Kelma Akhira’s Lamees El Hadidi discussing the IMF loan, which will be discussed by the executive board next week.

Nothing is impossible: An ecstatic Lamees El Hadidi dedicated most of her show to celebrating Morocco’s World Cup victory against Spain yesterday, “Impossible is nothing with determination and perseverance…impossible is nothing in football,” she said (watch, runtime: 4:53). Morocco’s win is also getting cheers from Masaa DMC (watch, runtime: 13:54).

A reminder of our 3rd program with the IMF: Following yesterday’s news that the IMF executive board will discuss Egypt’s request for a new loan program, Kelma Akhira’s El Hadidi reminded viewers about the details of the staff-level agreement reached in October (watch, runtime: 4:35).

An IMF approval would count as a “green light” for investments by foreign and Arab investors, House Budget and Planning Committee Chairman Fakhri El Fiqi told El Hadidi (watch, runtime: 11:22). “Egypt is on the right track,” El Fiqi said, looking to send a message of reassurance on the importance of the loan for the economy.

REMEMBER- Our Gulf allies have pledged to provide more than USD 20 bn in investment and funding for Egypt as they move to help shore up the country’s FX reserves amid global fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine.

El Fiqi dismissed speculation about a fresh devaluation, saying that “the [exchange rate] has already devalued in October” and blaming rumors for what he said were higher rates on the still-anemic parallel market. His statements come amid speculation from some analysts and MPs that the currency could lose value again, with 12-month non-deliverable forward now changing hands at EGP 30 to the USD. The EGP closed yesterday at 24.64 to the greenback. Enterprise readers told us in September that they expected the USD to be changing hands at EGP 23-24 next year.

The gold market is being hit by uncertainty over the currency right now, which led some merchants to this week stop pricing the precious metal. Local gold prices have surged to record highs this week, with 21 carat gold reaching EGP 1.8k. Demand for gold has surged in the wake of October’s EGP devaluation which has seen the currency fall almost 25% against the USD.

Expect EGP 1.8k “to be the norm” into next year, according to Amir Rizk, member of the Gold Division at the Chamber of Commerce. He told Yahduth Fi Masr’s Sherif Amer last night that he expects prices to decline towards the new year but will then pick back up again towards record highs (watch, runtime: 5:55).

MEANWHILE- The National Dialogue guest list: The National Dialogue’s board of trustees began to discuss yesterday who will participate, with the guest list set to include politicians, NGOs, experts and others, board member Talaat Abdel Qawy told Al Hayah Al Youm (watch, runtime: 9:40).