History was made on the trading floor this week. The Egyptian Exchange (EGX) has officially launched its first-ever derivatives market, opening up a world of sophisticated trading tools for everyone from big institutions to retail investors. Starting March 1, 2026, traders can now use futures contracts to hedge their portfolios or take positions on the EGX30 Index. This is a significant development for several reasons. First, risk management: investors finally have a regulated way to protect their gains during market dips. Second, it is retail-friendly: with a multiplier of just EGP 1, the entry cost is lower than ever, making high-level trading accessible to a new generation. Third, it meets global standards: by using a Central Counterparty (CCP) model, Egypt is aligning its market infrastructure with the world’s top financial hubs. As the exchange moves toward including more indices and individual stocks later this year, Egypt is firmly positioning itself as a competitive regional ...