Banks

Stock Markets Edge up as Trump Softens Tariff Pain for Auto Firms

Stock markets advanced on Tuesday following news that Donald Trump plans to spare automakers from some of his wide-ranging tariffs, boosting hopes of a less combative approach to his trade war. Signs of easing trade tensions are also spurring sentiment, as governments line up to negotiate deals with Washington to avert the full force of sweeping ...

Farewell to Wads of Cash: Lebanon Unveils Banknotes of LBP 500,000 and 1 Million

After nearly six years of economic and financial turmoil, Lebanon has taken a long-anticipated step by issuing higher-denomination banknotes. Last Thursday, the Lebanese Parliament approved a draft law presented by MP Ziad Hawat, after nearly two years of legislative wrangling, granting the Banque du Liban (BDL) permission to issue notes of LBP ...

Banks Association Calls for Balanced Restructuring Plan

Fadi Khalaf, Secretary General of the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL), is calling for a realistic restructuring plan that balances financial reform with the protection of depositors' rights amid an unprecedented systemic crisis. In the editorial of the ABL's monthly report, titled “A Realistic Vision for Restructuring: Between Reform and ...

Saudi Arabia, Qatar to Settle Syria’s World Bank Debt

Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced on Sunday that they would settle Syria's debt to the World Bank totalling roughly $15 million, according to a statement published by the Saudi Press Agency. Both Gulf states have played a key role in the diplomatic outreach to Syria's new rulers since the ouster of longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad in ...

Divisions Stall Parliamentary Talks on Beirut Municipal Council Parity

Sectarian divides once again paralyzed legislative work in Lebanon, as Parliament failed to reach any concrete decision on the issue of Christian-Muslim parity within Beirut’s municipal council. The matter has now been referred to a parliamentary committee for further examination. During a plenary session held on Thursday evening, Lebanese ...

Servant of the World: The Heavy Mantle Facing the Next Pope

Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, a conclave is set to convene in early May to elect his successor as the leader of the Catholic Church. The 267th pope will face formidable challenges in continuing the mission of this 2,000-year-old institution and spreading the message of Jesus. This responsibility is particularly daunting in a ...

UAB Executive Committee Vows Support for Crisis-Hit Banking Sectors

The Executive Committee of the Union of Arab Banks (UAB) convened in Beirut on Thursday under the chairmanship of Dr. Joseph Torbey, with the participation of Secretary General Wissam Fattouh and representatives from seven Arab nations: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Oman, Morocco, Lebanon and Sudan. During the meeting, the committee reviewed a ...

In Washington, Lebanon’s Central Bank Governor Calls for a Structured National Recovery

During the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington, Banque du Liban Governor Karim Souhaid delivered a stark and candid assessment of Lebanon’s critical condition. Speaking to an audience of international experts and policymakers, Souhaid described a country “at a crossroads—between fragility and ...

Abbas Urges Hamas to Free Gaza Hostages as Israeli Strikes Kill 18

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Wednesday urged Hamas to free all hostages in Gaza, saying their captivity provided Israel with "excuses" to attack the territory, as rescuers recovered charred bodies from an Israeli strike. At least 18 people were killed across the Gaza Strip by Israeli strikes, while Germany, France and Britain urged ...

Lebanon’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

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 ...