Gold price analytics: local vs global in Egypt

Frequently asked questions

• How far back does the analytics data go?+

  This page compares the local 24K gold price to the global market price converted to EGP. We have been recording the local price since the price tracker came online, and it covers the full chart window. We started recording the global benchmark later, so the global line in the chart begins partway through and continues to today. The note under the chart says how far back the global benchmark goes.
• Is the chart showing the sell price or the buy price?+

  It shows the sell price for both lines: local 24K and the EGP-equivalent global price. The buy price (what a dealer pays the consumer) is typically 2%–5% lower and is available on the individual karat pages.
• How should I read this chart to time a buy or sell?+

  Watch the distance between the local and global lines. A widening gap means the local market is charging a higher premium over global (could be a chance to sell). A narrowing gap means the two are converging. Then look at the short-term trend (1w, 1m) for timing. Short-term moves are hard to predict, so buying in regular small amounts is usually safer than a single large purchase.
• Why does the gold price move daily?+

  Main drivers: USD strength (gold is priced in USD globally), inflation and interest-rate expectations, geopolitical events, and seasonal demand (e.g. wedding season in Egypt). The EGP exchange rate adds another layer of volatility on top of the local price.
• How often is the data on this page refreshed?+

  Local prices are collected every 30 minutes by a scheduled job from the Egyptian market. The global ounce price and the USD/EGP rate are refreshed several times a day from two external sources (goldapi.io and exchangerate-api.com). The timestamp at the top of the page shows the last refresh in Cairo time.