Economy

Beirut Traders Association/Fransabank Index: Decline in Performance in Last Quarter
Beirut Traders Association/Fransabank Index: Decline in Performance in Last Quarter

The quarterly index published by Fransabank and the Beirut Traders Association (BTA) to measure activity in the retail sector showed a sharp decline in performance in the fourth quarter of 2023, due to regional events and their direct impact on economic activity in general and commercial activity in particular. The index took a new starting point ...

Habib Reaches Out to Qatar for Support to Housing Bank
Habib Reaches Out to Qatar for Support to Housing Bank

As part of his tour aiming to ensure the sustainability of housing loans for low and middle-income Lebanese, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Manager of the Banque de l'Habitat (BDH) Antoine Habib discussed with the Qatari Ambassador to Lebanon, Sheikh Saud bin Abdul Rahman bin Faisal Thani Al Thani, the possibility of cooperation ...

Beirut Port: France Remains True to Its Commitments
Beirut Port: France Remains True to Its Commitments

Rehabilitation of the Beirut port: France has honored its commitments to provide technical support. It is now up to Lebanon to take action. The ball is in its court. All hopes are now permitted for a prosperous future for the Beirut port, especially since "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," as the Chinese philosopher Lao ...

The Sacred Cows of Our Economy
The Sacred Cows of Our Economy

Yes, indeed, we also have our sacred cows, those perpetual taboos that must never be tampered with, those economic incests of the sphere of power. To illustrate this sacred herd, here is a small sample that is far from exhaustive. 1- The Gold. Every so often, we proudly boast that the Central Bank (BDL) holds 288 tons of it (currently worth $17 ...

BDL Seeks Openness to International Markets
BDL Seeks Openness to International Markets

The Central Bank of Lebanon (BDL) issued a statement on March 13, 2024, highlighting its commitment to fostering international relations and enhancing cooperation with global markets. "Based on the policy of openness and development, the Head of Emerging Markets at Morgan Stanley London, Ralph al-Raheb, visited BDL and held a meeting with Acting ...

Banking Sector: The State Must Acknowledge Its Debts
Banking Sector: The State Must Acknowledge Its Debts

Banking circles reject what is being circulated in some political meetings about nationalizing banks and scrapping bank deposits in a so-called “convincing way.” A financial official stresses the importance that “Lebanon adheres to private ownership and ensures the independence of the Banking sector.” He argues that the state is not ...

Lebanon, a Hub for Illicit Fund Transfers
Lebanon, a Hub for Illicit Fund Transfers

The US Treasury, through a delegation visiting Beirut last week, urged Lebanon to undertake necessary structural reforms to receive aid, but primarily demanded to curb monetary flows passing through Lebanon and sent to organizations deemed as terrorist. A delegation from the US Treasury led by a senior official held talks last week, away from the ...

The Ministry of Energy to Inject $500,000 Into the Treasury
The Ministry of Energy to Inject $500,000 Into the Treasury

The Ministry of Energy and Water announced that it will be injecting more than $500,000 into the public treasury, thereby securing additional revenue via a tender to clean up sewers and riverbeds. The Ministry organized a call for tenders on January 29, 2024, but the number of applicants was insufficient. After consultation with the Public ...

The Lebanese Pound Tops Most Devalued Currencies List
The Lebanese Pound Tops Most Devalued Currencies List

The Lebanese pound leads the list of the most devalued currencies this year, with a drop of over 83% against the US dollar, followed by the Nigerian pound, with a drop of around 42% since the start of 2024. According to the data from Bloomberg, the Egyptian pound also ranks third among the most devalued currencies, down 38.3% against the dollar ...

Bitcoin Hits New Record Above $70,000
Bitcoin Hits New Record Above $70,000

On Friday, Bitcoin reached a new historic high, surpassing $70,000, driven by the growing risk appetite of investors who seem to overlook the scandals, bankruptcies, and colossal losses of recent years. Bitcoin soared to $70,085.85, a new peak since its creation, before experiencing a slight decline. The leading cryptocurrency exceeded its ...

Bank Dollar Rates: LBP 15,000, 25,000 or 30,000?
Bank Dollar Rates: LBP 15,000, 25,000 or 30,000?

For those wondering when the bank dollar exchange rate is going to increase, it is becoming increasingly clear that it won't happen anytime soon. It's a complete mystery. The causes are many. The government, the Central Bank of Lebanon (BDL) and the Ministry of Finance continue to pass the blame, leaving depositors frustrated. None of them is ...

Civil Servants Salary Increases to Be Unblocked
Civil Servants Salary Increases to Be Unblocked

Caretaker Finance Minister Youssef Khalil signed a decision on Friday to grant temporary compensation to all active and retired civil servants, as outlined in Decree 13020. The amounts set to be calculated with retroactive effect will be disbursed during the last week of March, precisely starting from March 22, 2024. It is worth noting that the ...