Banks

After the Withdrawal Limit Increase: What About BDL Reserves?

In a highly anticipated move, Lebanon’s Central Bank (BDL) announced on Wednesday an increase in the withdrawal limits for Circulars 158 and 166, raising them to $500 and $250 per month, respectively, effective March 1. While the decision was welcomed by depositors, it has sparked concerns over its cost and potential impact on BDL’s reserves ...

When Kostanian Admits Defeat and the End of Kulluna Irada’s Project!

The article written by Albert Kostanian, published on al-Modon’s website and titled “Announcing Defeat,” stood out. He begins with the statement: “After nearly six years of media and technical battles, the time has come to announce defeat.” In this article, where every sentence could be analyzed, it is important to focus on several key ...

Stock markets skid after Trump threatens auto tariffs

  Global stock markets mostly fell Wednesday after US President Donald Trump broadened his tariff threats, stoking wider trade war fears. Trump warned the previous day that he would impose tariffs "in the neighbourhood of 25 percent" on auto imports and a similar amount or higher on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. "Understandably this has ...

BDL Raises Withdrawal Limits of Circulars 158 and 166

The Central Board of Lebanon's Central Bank  (BDL) has approved an increase in withdrawal limits under circulars 158 and 166, allowing depositors to withdraw $500 and $250 per month respectively.  The decision will take effect on March 1, 2025. In a statement issued Wednesday, the BDL explained that the decision aligns with its ongoing policy ...

Figure of the Week: Lebanon’s Fresh Dollar Transactions Surge in 2024, Reaching $302 Million

In 2024, the total value of fresh dollar checks cleared amounted to $302 million, according to data from the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL) and the research department at Bank Audi. On average, $25.2 million in fresh dollar checks were cleared each month throughout the year. The value of these checks experienced a monthly increase of 17%, ...

Reactions Against US President Donald Trump's Controversial Plan for Gaza

Arab League secretary-general Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Wednesday rejected any displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and West Bank, calling it "unacceptable" for the region. "The focus today is on Gaza today and tomorrow it will shift to the West Bank with the objective of emptying Palestine of its historical inhabitants," he said at the ...

Islamic State Group Claims Suicide Bombing of Afghan Bank

The Islamic State group claimed Wednesday a suicide bombing of a bank in north Afghanistan which killed five people a day earlier, saying it was targeting Taliban government employees collecting salaries. Violence has waned in Afghanistan since the Taliban surged back to power and ended their insurgency in 2021, but the Islamic State (IS) group ...

US Foreign Aid Halt to Have Major Hit on Poorest Countries: Report

A suspension of US foreign aid and possible dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will have a major impact on some of the world's poorest countries, the Washington-based Center for Global Development (CGD) warned Tuesday. For more than 20 economies, a year-long pause on US aid could mean a loss of over one percent ...

Real Estate Prices: How Have They Changed Over Time?

Lebanon’s real estate market is currently defined by a mismatch between sellers’ and buyers’ expectations. While sellers are banking on a price increase, driven by hopes of an economic recovery following the election of a president after more than two and a half years of political deadlock, buyers continue to perceive a stagnant market. A ...

Government Formation Delay: What Lies Ahead for Bank Withdrawal Limit Increases?

As the political situation remains uncertain, especially regarding the formation of the government, the Central Bank of Lebanon decided at the end of January to suspend its previous policy that required banks to make multiple monthly payments to beneficiaries of Circulars 158 and 166. This decision restores withdrawal limits to pre-crisis ...

The Challenge of Housing Loans in Lebanon

To encourage young graduates to stay in Lebanon, it is imperative to first offer them job opportunities and then viable solutions for homeownership. However, today, the landscape of real estate credit remains unclear, with no serious plan for the recovery of public and private institutions yet in place. In principle, three entities are capable of ...

Israeli Army Says 'a Number of Terrorists' Killed in West Bank Operation

The Israeli army said Sunday that it had killed "a number of terrorists" in three air strikes the previous day in the occupied West Bank, where a new operation was underway around the village of Tamun. Eyewitnesses reported a "large" deployment of Israeli forces around Tubas and Tamun, the scene of recent violence. An AFP journalist said the ...