Economy

Mansouri Highlights the Importance of Structural Reforms
Mansouri Highlights the Importance of Structural Reforms

A delegation from the Lebanese Business Association (LBE), led by its President Bassem al-Bawab, visited the acting Governor of the Central Bank, Wassim Mansouri. During the meeting, Mansouri presented Lebanon’s monetary, financial, and economic situation, the Central Bank’s next steps, the requirements for the banking sector’s development, ...

Summer 2024: Falling Short of 2023
Summer 2024: Falling Short of 2023

Although the summer of 2024 started with a bang, it seems less promising than that of 2023. The initial figures for the season are not as good as those of last year, although they remain satisfactory overall. One thing is certain: Lebanon has once again won over the hearts of expatriates. Despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza and southern Lebanon, ...

Civil Servants Speak Out, Threaten Work Stoppage
Civil Servants Speak Out, Threaten Work Stoppage

The Civil Servants' Union has once again taken a stand on Thursday, demanding a readjustment of salaries and threatening a work stoppage. In a statement, the union called on "the government to fulfill its promises and to advance a project for a fair and equitable salary readjustment that takes into account inflation and the cost of living, while ...

Saudi Airline Flynas to Buy 90 Airbus Planes
Saudi Airline Flynas to Buy 90 Airbus Planes

European aviation giant Airbus announced Thursday that Saudi low-cost carrier Flynas has signed a deal to buy 75 single-aisle A320neo jets and 15 long-haul A330-900 planes. The planes have a catalogue price totaling $13 billion, though big orders usually have significant discounts. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding at the UK's ...

BDH: 2,515 Loan Applications Completed
BDH: 2,515 Loan Applications Completed

Banque de l'Habitat (BDH) began accepting applications for housing loans at the beginning of June. According to initial figures, BDH had received 23,483 applications by July 22. Of these, 5,200 applications have been filled, and 2,515 people have completed the required electronic procedures before moving on to the second phase. BDH plans to ...

Presidential Inflammation
Presidential Inflammation

  It all starts with this fundamental question: what conditions would make the presence of a President economically favorable? Then, what type of President? Under specific circumstances, could it be more convenient to keep this position vacant? Two years after the power vacuum, the turmoil surrounding the presidential election is ongoing. ...

Fitch: Lebanon's Rating Maintained at 'RD'
Fitch: Lebanon's Rating Maintained at 'RD'

The credit rating agency, Fitch Ratings, has maintained Lebanon's rating at “restricted default” (RD) on its long-term foreign currency public debt, as a result of the default on the Eurobonds due March 9, 2020. On Tuesday, the American International Financial Rating Agency maintained Lebanon's rating at RD, indicating Lebanon’s ongoing ...

Commodities: Your Alternative to the Stock Market
Commodities: Your Alternative to the Stock Market

Financial jargon is filled with terms borrowed from English that can seem complex at first glance. One such term is “commodities,” which refers to raw materials (RMs) traded as financial instruments on the stock market. Alternatively, if you have ample storage space, it can also mean physical goods. The aim here is to closely examine this type ...

Lebanon’s Reserves Over $10.2B: Will Dollar Withdrawal Limits Rise?
Lebanon’s Reserves Over $10.2B: Will Dollar Withdrawal Limits Rise?

Since August 1, 2023, Lebanon’s Central Bank (BDL) liquid foreign currency reserves have steadily increased from $8.573 billion to $9.9 billion by June 2024, marking an average monthly growth of $120 million under the new leadership. This development occurs under Lebanon's Central Bank policy of not financing the government with currencies, ...

Khalaf: Return of Bank Credit Is Essential for Economic Recovery
Khalaf: Return of Bank Credit Is Essential for Economic Recovery

Secretary General of the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL) Fadi Khalaf said, in the preamble of the association's monthly report titled “The return of loans will contribute to the recovery of deposits,” that restoring the banking sector's normal role, particularly in the field of credit, is essential to getting the Lebanese economy moving ...

Consumer Prices: +0.28% in June
Consumer Prices: +0.28% in June

The Central Administration of Statistics (CAS) reported on Monday that the consumer price index in Lebanon for the month of June 2024 recorded an increase of 0.28% compared with May 2024. A very moderate increase compared with the leaps recorded during the months of 2023, such as 33.27% in March and 5.35% in May. Moreover, the index rose by ...

Iraq to Import Turkish Electricity to Combat Power Outages
Iraq to Import Turkish Electricity to Combat Power Outages

Iraq said on Sunday that a new power line will bring electricity from Turkey to its northern provinces as authorities aim to diversify the country's energy sources to ease chronic power outages. The 115-kilometre (71-mile) line connects to the Kisik power station west of Mosul and will provide 300 megawatts from Turkey to Iraq's northern ...