Deputy Finance Minister Ahmed Kouchouk said that foreign holdings of government securities - including T- bills and T-bonds - have increased by cUSD700mn and USD900mn since the float - some of that rise is due to foreign money that was already inside Egypt but some is due to new money from abroad. Depreciation would also help government revenues by inflating some payments such as Suez Canal revenues, and that a weaker pound will not have a big impact on state finances since fiscal reforms had incorporated expectations for depreciation, he said. The government is still on track to cut its primary budget deficit by two-thirds in the current fiscal year from last year's 3.4% of GDP, and to eliminate it next year. Authorities expect to make a decision early next week on when they will hold investor roadshows for the first Eurobond issue and the size would depend on market conditions, Kouchouk added. (Reuters)