Economy

Gold Hits New Record High as Investors Flee Risk, Asia Stocks Slide
Gold Hits New Record High as Investors Flee Risk, Asia Stocks Slide

Asia markets were down on Wednesday while gold extended its six-day rally after reaching a record high as investors sought safe havens following a selloff in equity and bond markets. Bullion for immediate delivery hit a fresh record as Asia markets opened, climbing 0.4 percent to hit $3,546.96 an ounce. Prices have risen five percent over the ...

Mobile Plans: When ‘Better Deals’ End Up Costing More
Mobile Plans: When ‘Better Deals’ End Up Costing More

For years, Lebanon has struggled with failing essential services and soaring costs. This also applies to the mobile phone sector. With “adjusted” plans and unreliable networks, subscribers oscillate between resignation and frustration, all while waiting for a clear signal, both figuratively and literally. Here’s an example of a revision and ...

Banque du Liban Bans Inflow of Funds Linked to Sanctioned Entities
Banque du Liban Bans Inflow of Funds Linked to Sanctioned Entities

On Tuesday, the Banque du Liban (BDL) issued Circular No. 170, banning the direct or indirect entry of funds linked to Lebanese organizations subject to international sanctions, especially those imposed by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The central bank cautioned that permitting such financial flows could endanger the ties ...

Gold Price Hits Record Above $3,500
Gold Price Hits Record Above $3,500

Gold prices hit a record high above $3,500 on Tuesday, as investors sought out safe havens in the face of global economic uncertainty. The precious metal reached $3,501.59 an ounce during early trading in Asia, soaring past its previous record of $3,500.10 in April. The run in gold prices comes as investors weigh up a weakened US dollar and the ...

EBML Announces Fee Relief and Installment Plans
EBML Announces Fee Relief and Installment Plans

The Beirut and Mount Lebanon Water Establishment (EBML) has called on all subscribers to settle their outstanding water fees for 2025 and previous years through authorized collectors, distribution office counters, POS machines, and money transfer centers. In a statement issued Monday, the establishment said online payments via its website are ...

Budget 2026: Quick Taxes or Deep Reform?
Budget 2026: Quick Taxes or Deep Reform?

For 2026, the Finance Minister has promised a deficit-free budget, with revenues and expenditures in balance. An attractive prospect, but at what cost to Lebanese households? Tax hikes and new levies could quickly turn that balance into a burden for taxpayers. The draft budget has been submitted to the General Secretariat of the Council of ...

Lebanon Says ‘I Don’t’: Weddings Plunge to Historic Low in 2025
Figure of the weekLebanon Says ‘I Don’t’: Weddings Plunge to Historic Low in 2025

The 2025 wedding season in Lebanon has seen an unprecedented decline, confirming the continued downturn of a sector already weakened in recent years. According to industry professionals, the number of weddings has dropped to just 35% of pre-2019 levels, compared to 50% in 2023 and 40% in 2024. A total decrease of 65% since the beginning of the ...

Summer 2025: Lebanon Reclaims Its Suitcases… and Its Traffic Jams
Summer 2025: Lebanon Reclaims Its Suitcases… and Its Traffic Jams

Every summer in Lebanon carries a hint of uncertainty: a sunny getaway shadowed by geopolitical clouds. In 2025, the gamble partly paid off. While not quite reaching the golden era of 2018–2019, the season brought hope to a sector long on edge. Between July and August, Beirut welcomed more than 100 daily flights, with passenger numbers ranging ...

Schools and Universities: The Steep Price of Education
Schools and Universities: The Steep Price of Education

Back-to-school season in Lebanon has never been more daunting. Several private schools have raised tuition fees by 50 % to more than 120 % for the 2025–2026 academic year, nearly reaching pre-2019 economic collapse levels. At the university level, dollarization has turned tuition into an almost insurmountable challenge. Annual fees at the ...

Counterfeit Gold: Arrests and a Practical Guide for Cautious Buyers
Counterfeit Gold: Arrests and a Practical Guide for Cautious Buyers

On August 20 in Jounieh, a sweep by the Internal Security Forces led to the arrest of several members of a network selling counterfeit gold. While the operation highlights the need for vigilance, political, security and economic uncertainty continues to push Lebanese citizens toward the precious metal. But how can one tell a fake ounce from a ...

After a Strong First Half, Lego Aims to Keep Expanding Its Hold on the Toy Market
VideosAfter a Strong First Half, Lego Aims to Keep Expanding Its Hold on the Toy Market

Buoyed by a net profit and revenue increase of more than 10% in the first half of the year, Danish toy giant Lego plans to continue gaining market share despite a volatile global environment, the company’s CEO said in an interview with AFP on Wednesday. “In recent years, we’ve consistently outpaced market growth and gained share,” said ...

US Tariffs on Indian Goods Double to 50% Over Russian Oil Purchases
US Tariffs on Indian Goods Double to 50% Over Russian Oil Purchases

US tariffs of 50 percent took effect Wednesday on many Indian products, doubling an existing duty as President Donald Trump sought to punish New Delhi for buying Russian oil. Trump has raised pressure on India over the energy transactions, a key source of revenue for Moscow's war in Ukraine, as part of a campaign to end the conflict. The latest ...