Economy

US stocks mixed on Nvidia results, latest Trump tariff talk
US stocks mixed on Nvidia results, latest Trump tariff talk

Wall Street stocks were mixed early Thursday following solid results from Nvidia as markets digested the latest tariff news from US President Donald Trump. Nvidia reported a net income of $22 billion in the fourth quarter as it cited "amazing" demand for its Blackwell chip technology. Analysts at UBS rated Nvidia's numbers as "good enough" while ...

French Finance Minister: EU Will 'Do the Same' if US Imposes Tariffs Hikes:
French Finance Minister: EU Will 'Do the Same' if US Imposes Tariffs Hikes:

French Finance Minister Eric Lombard told AFP on Thursday that the European Union would "do the same" if the United States follows through with 25 percent tariffs announced by President Donald Trump. Trump threatened Wednesday to impose 25 percent tariffs on goods imported from the European Union. "It is clear that if the Americans maintain the ...

Electricity: Gradual Recovery of Power Supply
Electricity: Gradual Recovery of Power Supply

Électricité du Liban (EDL) has confirmed in a statement that the electricity supply issue has been resolved through cooperation with Iraq. Baghdad approved the shipment of necessary fuel under a fuel exchange agreement, which allowed the unloading of a diesel shipment (from January 2025) provided by the Ministry of Energy. This shipment had been ...

Stock Markets Rally with Tech in Focus
Stock Markets Rally with Tech in Focus

Asian and European stock markets rallied Wednesday, helped by renewed positivity over the tech sector, analysts said. Hong Kong closed up more than three percent, with investors snapping up stocks following a poor start to the week sparked by fresh concerns over US President Donald Trump's tariff plans. In Europe, Paris and Frankfurt led the ...

The Role of the US, EU and Arab Countries in Syria’s Economic Future
The Role of the US, EU and Arab Countries in Syria’s Economic Future

The Partial Lifting of European Sanctions Is Insufficient The partial lifting of European sanctions on Syria is a positive step that could help accelerate economic recovery. However, this measure remains inadequate given the urgent need for support. While some Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, notably Qatar and Saudi Arabia, are willing ...

From Drought to Frost: A Disrupted Winter for Agriculture
From Drought to Frost: A Disrupted Winter for Agriculture

After an unusually dry and warm start to winter, a severe cold wave and snowfall have hit Lebanon, causing major disruptions in the agricultural sector, particularly affecting sensitive crops. Farmers are facing a delicate situation as exceptionally low temperatures challenge the resilience of their plantations. Agriculture is grappling with ...

Caroline Fattal Ranks 6th in Forbes Middle East’s 10 Most Influential Businesswomen
Caroline Fattal Ranks 6th in Forbes Middle East’s 10 Most Influential Businesswomen

Caroline Fattal, president of the eponymous group, has secured the sixth spot in Forbes Middle East’s ranking of the 10 most influential businesswomen leading family businesses in the Middle East. She thus establishes herself as a key figure in family business in the region. President of the Fattal Group since 2022, Caroline Fattal became the ...

Ukraine's Reconstruction Needs Surpass $500 Billion
Ukraine's Reconstruction Needs Surpass $500 Billion

Ukraine will need over $500 billion to repair the damage resulting from the Russian invasion, which has entered its fourth year, according to a joint assessment published Tuesday. "The total cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine is $524 billion over the next decade," said a statement published by Ukraine, the World Bank Group, the ...

Potential Increase in Hospital Fees and Insurance Premiums
Potential Increase in Hospital Fees and Insurance Premiums

Tensions persist between the Lebanese Hospital Owners' Syndicate and the Association of Insurance Companies. The conflict stems from a decision by the former, chaired by Sleiman Haroun, to increase hospital fees contracted with insurance companies by 15%, citing the need to “continue providing quality services to insured patients.” After ...

Decline in Commercial Activity According to Beirut Traders Association – Fransabank Index
Decline in Commercial Activity According to Beirut Traders Association – Fransabank Index

The Beirut Traders Association – Fransabank Retail Trade Index for the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4-2024) recorded a value of 31.37, indicating a modest recovery in commercial activity, accompanied by cautious optimism about short-term improvements. In contrast, the index for the third quarter of 2024 had reached 35.06, reflecting a continued ...

Phosphorus Not Detected in Olive Trees of Southern Lebanon
Phosphorus Not Detected in Olive Trees of Southern Lebanon

The Ministries of Agriculture and Environment issued a joint statement on Monday to reassure the public, stating, "In response to concerns about the impact of phosphorus on crops in the southern regions, initial laboratory tests conducted on samples, particularly olives, found no traces of phosphorus, ensuring they are safe for ...

China's Alibaba to Invest $50 bn in AI, Cloud Computing
China's Alibaba to Invest $50 bn in AI, Cloud Computing

Chinese tech giant Alibaba said Monday it will spend more than $50 billion on artificial intelligence and cloud computing over the next three years, a week after co-founder Jack Ma was seen meeting President Xi Jinping. Investors have piled into Chinese technology stocks since the start of the year, with Alibaba – which runs some of the ...