banks

Private US, Japanese Lunar Landers Launch on Single Rocket

One rocket, two missions: lunar landers built by US and Japanese companies launched their "rideshare" to the Moon on Wednesday, showcasing the private sector's growing role in space exploration. On board the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida were Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost and ispace's Resilience ...

Exchange Rate Stability: Lebanese Pound Withstands the Surge

For some time now, rumors have suggested a drop in the exchange rate from 89,500 pounds per dollar to 50,000. However, Nassib Ghobril, Chief Economist at Byblos Bank, dismisses such claims as “not serious.” “The Lebanese pound has experienced a frenzied demand since the ceasefire and Thursday’s presidential election. Speculators started ...

A Herculean Task for the New President

The moment of truth is upon us—the time for decisive choices and a critical turning point for the country. Regardless of the outcome of the January 9 election, the election of Lebanon's 14th president presents a historic opportunity to claim the country’s rightful place in the emerging regional order. The new president will immediately face ...

The LBP's Exchange Rate Remains Fixed

The Lebanese Pound’s (LBP) exchange rate remains fixed, despite attempts by speculators to exploit the political atmosphere surrounding the presidential election, official sources told MTV Lebanon. Speculators are reportedly attempting to create the illusion of an improving LBP exchange rate and a declining dollar value, according to the ...

PMI Rises for the Second Month in a Row

In December 2024, BlomInvest’s Purchase Managers Index (PMI) reached its highest level in five months. In Lebanon, it scored 48.4 points in November 2024, as opposed to 48.1 the month before. According to Helmi Mourad, a research analyst at Blom Business Bank, the PMI improved for the second consecutive month, going from a low of 45 points in ...

Bank Restructuring in the Council of Ministers: The Stakes of a Highly Controversial Project

Lebanon is at a critical juncture in its economic crisis, with a Cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who plans to address several issues, notably a sensitive bill concerning the restructuring of banks. Quietly added to the agenda last Friday, this highly controversial draft has ...

1 Dead and 9 Injured in Israeli Raid on Refugee Camp in West Bank

The health ministry in the occupied West Bank said one person was killed and nine injured in an Israeli raid on a refugee camp, with the Israeli military saying Saturday it had opened fire at "terrorists". An 18-year-old man, Muhammad Medhat Amin Amer, "was killed by bullets from the (Israeli) occupation in the Balata camp" in the territory's ...

Maysaa Sabrine, First Woman to Manage the Affairs of the Syrian Central Bank

The new Syrian authorities have tasked a central bank official, Maysaa Sabrine, with "managing affairs" at the institution, marking an unprecedented appointment for a woman to this position, an internal source told AFP on Tuesday. This financial expert, who had served as the first deputy governor of the Syrian central bank since 2018, began her ...

The UN Asks The ICJ For Its Opinion On Israel's Obligations Towards The Palestinians

On Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution asking the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule on Israel's humanitarian obligations towards the Palestinians, at a time when the Israeli government is accused of obstructing access to aid in Gaza. The resolution, submitted by Norway, was adopted by a large ...

Counterfeit $50 Bills: An Issue Nearing Resolution

The issue of counterfeit $50 bills appears to be nearing a resolution. Over 80% of shops, supermarkets and gas stations now accept these bills for cash payments. The remaining 15% mainly consists of small neighborhood businesses, which have been particularly affected by the economic crisis and the fragility of a cash-reliant economy. “Most ...

Lagarde says ECB will continue to cut interest rates

European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde said Monday eurozone policymakers would keep cutting interest rates and warned that higher US tariffs under President-elect Donald Trump could hit growth in the bloc. "Even though we are not there yet, we are close to achieving our target" of two-percent inflation, Lagarde said in a speech at the Bank ...