Egypt banks, stock exchange not to open on Thursday

Ahram Online, Wednesday 14 Aug 2013

Egypt's central bank instructs banks to close nationwide, Egypt bourse decides to suspend trading on Thursday amid deadly violence

The Central Bank of Egypt announced on Wednesday that the country’s banks will be closed on Thursday following deadly violence, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.

The stock exchange decided to follow suit, Al-Ahram reported.

Earlier on Wednesday, clashes were sparked nationwide by a crackdown of security forces on two month-long sit-ins held by supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi in Greater Cairo, which according to Egypt's health ministry has so far resulted in 95 deaths and 874 injuries nationwide.

In response, Egypt's interim President Adly Mansour declared a month-long state of emergency and imposed a 7pm to 6am curfew on 12 out of Egypt's 27 governorates – Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Suez, Ismailia, Assiut, Sohag, Beni Suef, Minya, Beheira, South Sinai, and North Sinai.

This decision comes following violence sweeping the country, which included attacks on dozens of churches across Egypt and other properties belonging to the Coptic Church.

The unrest led Egypt's main index to fall 1.7 percent in Wednesday's session.

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