Egyptian stocks slipped from highs on profit-taking in telecom and steel shares on Monday, despite a surge of interest in the usually dormant milling sector. Misr Hotels also rose strongly on a media report that four investors had shown an interest in buying the state's stake in the company, brokers said. The financial daily al-Alam al-Youm said on Sunday that the state holding company would probably announce the sale of the company in the second half of February. Misr Hotels shares ended the day 4.18 percent higher, last trading at 83.00 pounds ($14.00), a 30-month high. The benchmark Hermes index lost 190.84 points, or 0.75 percent, to a close of 25,414.68. The broader CIBC index ended down 0.14 points, or 0.13 percent, at 111.12. A striking feature was the sudden interest in millers, which have fallen behind in the stock price surge of the past year and so may have looked attractive, brokers said. --More 1814 Local Time 1514 GMT
