Economy

Prices Rise Again: +0.44% in March
Prices Rise Again: +0.44% in March

Lebanon's consumer price index for March 2025 recorded an increase of 0.44% compared with February 2025. The annual change in the consumer price index for March 2025 was 14.19% compared with March 2024. Concerning the monthly variation of the index by governorate, the figures are as follows: Beirut: up 0.33 Mount Lebanon: up 0.11 North: up ...

EU Slaps Fines on Apple and Meta, Risking Trump Fury
EU Slaps Fines on Apple and Meta, Risking Trump Fury

The EU on Wednesday slapped Apple and Meta with 700 million euros in fines for breaking digital competition rules, risking the wrath of US President Donald Trump. The penalties threaten to cause more tension in the already fraught relationship between the bloc and Trump, as the two sides discuss a deal to avoid his sweeping tariffs on the ...

Gold at Record Highs as Markets Reel: Is It Time to Panic or Buy Smart?
Gold at Record Highs as Markets Reel: Is It Time to Panic or Buy Smart?

After Easter opened a turbulent week for financial markets. The world’s main stock exchanges recorded significant losses, despite a few timid attempts to bounce back. This instability is unfolding in an atmosphere weighed down by geopolitical tensions and persistent fears of a global‑growth slowdown. Meanwhile, gold moved sharply in the ...

Aramco and BYD unveil car technology alliance
Aramco and BYD unveil car technology alliance

Saudi Aramco and the Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD announced Monday an agreement to work together on what they called new-energy vehicle technologies. The Saudi oil giant is already a partner with Renault of France and the Chinese automaker Geely in a joint venture to produce thermal engines. Its subsidiary, Saudi Aramco Technologies ...

Lebanon to Overhaul Groundwater Drilling Licensing System
Lebanon to Overhaul Groundwater Drilling Licensing System

Lebanon's Minister of Energy and Water, Joe Saddi, announced on Tuesday a major reform of the country's groundwater drilling licensing system, as part of an effort to improve water resource management. The reform is being developed in collaboration with experts from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and ...

Lebanon’s Banking Secrecy Reform: A Threat to Privacy, Legal Security, and Economic Trust
SpotlightLebanon’s Banking Secrecy Reform: A Threat to Privacy, Legal Security, and Economic Trust

As Lebanon grapples with a deep financial crisis and seeks to overhaul its banking system, a proposed amendment to the country’s banking secrecy law has sparked major controversy. Though introduced under the banner of transparency and reform, the changes raise serious concerns about individual privacy, data protection, investor confidence, and ...

Gold Hits Record above $3,500, Stocks Slip as Trump Fuels Fed Fears
Gold Hits Record above $3,500, Stocks Slip as Trump Fuels Fed Fears

Bullion hit another record Tuesday while the dollar steadied and equities mostly fell as Donald Trump's latest salvo against Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell added fuel to fears about the central bank's independence. With the US tariff blitz still causing ructions on global trading floors, investors are now dealing with the added worry that the ...

Gold Hits Record, Dollar Drops as Tariff Fears Dampen Sentiment
Gold Hits Record, Dollar Drops as Tariff Fears Dampen Sentiment

Gold prices hit a fresh record on Monday while the dollar weakened further and stocks were mixed amid worries about Donald Trump's tariff blitz and his bubbling row with the Federal Reserve. With several markets still closed for the Easter holiday, business was limited ahead of a week that will see the release of key data that should give an ...

'No-Reform' Banking Bill: Where Is the Responsibility of the Defaulting State?
Spotlight'No-Reform' Banking Bill: Where Is the Responsibility of the Defaulting State?

Following the adoption of the draft law for reforming and reorganizing the banking sector in Lebanon, the government will begin preparing a law to address the financial gap, intended to restore financial system stability. However, the implementation of the banking reform and reorganization bill is suspended until the law on the financial gap is ...

Analysts Warn US Could Be Handing Chip Market to China
SpotlightAnalysts Warn US Could Be Handing Chip Market to China

As the Trump administration attempts to choke off exports of strategically important computer chips to China, experts say the effort might well backfire, fueling innovation at Chinese firms that could help them seize the world semiconductor market. "What's actually happening is that the US government right now is handing China a big win as it ...

The Dollar Slides, Lebanon Worries
The Dollar Slides, Lebanon Worries

The US dollar is weakening against major global currencies amid heightened geopolitical tensions and a tariff escalation spearheaded by President Donald Trump. This open trade war is undermining the dollar’s status in global markets. Can the American currency still maintain its dominant role in international trade? The question is especially ...