Economy

Civil Servants on Strike From November 13 to 15
Civil Servants on Strike From November 13 to 15

The League of Civil Servants announced on Monday its intention to initiate a warning strike in public administrations, with the exception of urgent cases, from Wednesday, November 13 to Friday, November 15. This decision follows the government's dismissal of civil servants' plea to eliminate the requirement for in-person work. In a press release ...

Bitcoin Breaks Records as Asian Markets Slump in Trump Era
Bitcoin Breaks Records as Asian Markets Slump in Trump Era

Most Asian markets fell Monday after China's keenly awaited plans to support the world's number two economy fell short of expectations, while traders were also keeping tabs on Washington as Donald Trump puts his cabinet together after last week's election win. Stocks rallied last week on hopes that a second Trump administration - supported by a ...

Lebanon-Syria Border Crossings Under Israeli Surveillance
Lebanon-Syria Border Crossings Under Israeli Surveillance

The Lebanon-Syria border is dotted with countless unofficial crossing points. Without natural barriers like rivers, mountains or a coastal divide, an effective demarcation of the border remains challenging. There are currently only six official crossings, three of which have been put out of operation by Israeli strikes. Masnaa, Kaa, Daboussiyeh, ...

All Eyes on Central Bank’s Reserves
All Eyes on Central Bank’s Reserves

Political pressure from the Amal-Hezbollah duo on the government is mounting, driven by rising complaints among the displaced population and the decrease in international aid. Faced with limited options, Lebanon is now in a state of voluntary default. All eyes are set on the foreign currency reserves of Lebanon’s central bank (BDL) and the ...

Arbid Calls for Creation of Economic and Social Emergency Committee
Arbid Calls for Creation of Economic and Social Emergency Committee

The national emergency plan, the humanitarian and health situation and the aid distribution mechanism were discussed at a participatory working meeting held by the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (ESEC) on Thursday with the coordinators of the Emergency Committee, caretaker Environment Minister Nasser Yassin and caretaker Health ...

Trump 2024 Sparks Optimism in Financial Markets
Trump 2024 Sparks Optimism in Financial Markets

Global markets responded enthusiastically to Donald Trump’s victory as President of the United States. The US 10-year Treasury yield spiked above 4.4%, climbing 15 basis points overnight, while Wall Street opened with strong gains after the Republican win. Dow Jones futures surged 1,100 points pre-market, and Bitcoin broke past the $75,000 mark, ...

Race to the White House: Trump vs. Harris on Economic Policies
ExplainerRace to the White House: Trump vs. Harris on Economic Policies

The US elections extend beyond domestic concerns; their impact resonates worldwide due to the United States' power, wealth, and influence. With a gross domestic product approaching $28.8 trillion, the US is at the heart of global information, capital, goods, and services flows. Therefore, understanding the potential ramifications of the elections ...

Dollar Soars, Bitcoin Hits Record as Trump Leads Key Swing States
Dollar Soars, Bitcoin Hits Record as Trump Leads Key Swing States

The dollar surged and bitcoin hit a record high Wednesday as traders bet on a victory for Donald Trump as he picked up key swing states needed to take the White House, ramping up bets on fresh tax cuts, tariffs and rising inflation. While polls had shown the race on a knife edge, the Republican appeared to be faring better than his Democratic ...

PMI at Record Low
PMI at Record Low

The Purchase Managers Index (PMI), published by BlomInvest, registered 45 points in October 2024, down from 47 in the previous month in Lebanon. This is the lowest figure in forty-four months. Business confidence also fell to its lowest level in sixteen months. Commenting on the figures, Fadi Osseiran, Managing Director of Blom Business Bank, ...

Hijacking Lebanon's Treasury Account 36
Hijacking Lebanon's Treasury Account 36

The Shiite duo (Amal-Hezbollah) reportedly has its sights set on the funds in Lebanon's Treasury Account 36 to support the displaced. This account comprises funds collected by the Lebanese state, primarily from taxes, customs duties, donations and other sources of public revenue. Recently, Hezbollah and Amal MPs and ministers, including Hussein ...

The Hezbollah-Israel War: A Blow to the Lebanese Economy
The Hezbollah-Israel War: A Blow to the Lebanese Economy

Lebanon is undergoing an unprecedented economic collapse, worsened by the recent war, which deepened the financial crisis that began in 2019 when the state declared bankruptcy, and banks, along with the Central Bank (BDL), faltered. The financial sector’s collapse triggered a widespread crisis, affecting every facet of economic and daily life. ...

Asian Markets Rise Ahead of US Election
Asian Markets Rise Ahead of US Election

Asian markets mostly rose Tuesday, a day before results from the US presidential election rolled in, with opinion polls showing a knife-edge vote, while Chinese equities were boosted by hopes over the country's economy. Uncertainty about the outcome and worries that the winner might not be known for days has led to warnings that investors could ...