Anticipated strong 2003 results from MobilNil and the short-listing of Orascom Telecom (OT) for a mobile phone licence in Iran pushed big-cap Egyptian stocks to a higher close on Sunday, traders said.
The benchmark Hermes index rose 155.14 points, or 1.3 percent, to 11,792.55 points.
The broader CIBC index was little changed, last being quoted down 0.06 points, or 0.1 percent, at 79.49 points.
MobiNil, or the Egyptian Company for Mobile Services, is due to post 2003 results later in January.
"They are going to be strong," one trader said. MobiNil in October posted a 39 percent rise in third-quarter profits.
MobiNil shares last traded up 3.21 Egyptian pounds ($0.52), or 4.3 percent, at 78.48 pounds with an official weighted close of 77.46 pounds.
OT said at the end of December that Iran had short-listed it to bid for the country's second mobile phone licence, which traders view as positive because it would give OT access to a market of some 70 million people.
"Iran is a huge country," said Bassim Arida, head of the foreign desk at CIBC Brokerage.
OT shares last traded 2.83 pounds, or 3.5 percent higher, at 83.02 pounds. They closed with an official weighted price of 82.91 pounds.
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