The EGP firms on black market to USD-EGP11.00-11.50 buy price and 12.00-12.30 sell price on Thursday, two days after the government announced it was in talks with IMF to secure USD12bn loan. The significant widening in the spread between the buy and sell prices comes amidst heightened uncertainty in the market about future EGP moves with exchange bureaus selling at high margins to avoid losses over the past days and decided to get rid of the possessed USD at high cost and buying a new stock at lower cost to lessen the average cost incurred. (Al Mal and Reuters)