The surprise yield reduction could indicate the central bank is preparing to lower its overnight interest rates when its monetary policy committee meets on Thursday, two analysts told Reuters.

Yields on certificates with a maturity of one year were now 6%, on two years 6.5%, on three years 9% and on 10 years 9.5%, according to the website of the state-owned National Bank of Egypt (NBE), which markets the instruments for NIB.

Previously, the certificates bore a yield of 9.75% for one year, 9.5% for two years, 9.25% for three years and 9.75% for 10 years, an NBE official told Reuters.

(Reporting by Afaf Ammar and Ehab Farouk; Writing by Patrick Werr; Editing by Catherine Evans)