Economy

Syria Urges Banks to Provision Their Claims on Lebanon

The Central Bank of Syria has given domestic banks a six-month deadline to fully provision their claims on the Lebanese banking sector, estimated at $1.6 billion, according to a circular cited by Reuters. The directive does not specify the exact nature of these claims – whether deposits, placements or financial investments – making their ...

Consumer Price Index Up 0.6% in September

Lebanon’s Consumer Price Index rose 0.6% in September 2025, compared with August 2025, according to official data. Year-on-year inflation reached 15.06%. At the governorate level, monthly increases varied significantly: Mount Lebanon, +0.90%; Beqaa, +0.69%; Nabatieh, +0.64%; Beirut, +0.27%; South Lebanon, +0.22%; and North Lebanon, ...

Cocoa: Has the Sweet Boom Come to an End?

The frenzy that gripped the cocoa market seems to be fading. In December 2024, the price per ton hit nearly $12,000, a historic high driven by fears of a worldwide shortage. However, since the summer of 2025, prices have dropped below $6,000, reaching their lowest point since February 2024, according to Bloomberg. This shift signals the end of a ...

Global Markets 2025: From Soaring Peaks to Sudden Crashes

Since January, major stock indices such as the S&P 500, Nasdaq and Euro Stoxx have shattered records. Fueled by surging optimism around artificial intelligence, global finance seems to be reliving its golden era. Yet beneath this spectacular rise, the ground is quaking. Every peak is followed by a dark day. In just hours, billions of dollars could ...

Gold Rush in Lebanon: Between Speculation and Shortages

Lebanese buyers are increasingly turning to precious metals, especially gold and silver, whose international prices have been climbing steadily to record highs. These days, it can take up to a week to obtain a gold bar and nearly two weeks for a kilogram of silver. A few weeks ago, people had to spend over an hour in line to make a purchase. The ...

Taylor Swift, Love, Diamonds and Pop: Everything She Touches Turns to Gold

Dominating music charts, Taylor Swift leads in multiple areas, establishing herself as a worldwide sensation. The American star creates rare ripple effects across music, fashion and even finance. At 35, after announcing her engagement to American football player Travis Kelce this summer, Swift triggered an immediate reaction from millions of fans ...

Lebanon Still Charms, but Tourism Numbers Fall

In the 2010s, Lebanon ranked among the world’s top tourist destinations, celebrated for its festivals, crowded beaches, boutique hotels and award-winning cuisine. Tourism then accounted for nearly a fifth of GDP and was at the very heart of the economy. Today, that postcard-perfect image has faded. Two years after a brief recovery, the sector ...

Paris Fashion Week: Where Style Pays Off

Every year, the French capital doesn’t just host the world’s top fashion shows; it drives the industry’s economy. According to the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, Paris Fashion Week generates around €1.2 billion in economic impact for the city. Over several weeks, more than 110 haute couture and ready-to-wear shows unfold, ...

Foreign Competition Chokes Lebanese Agriculture

With fields overflowing and fridges full, Lebanon’s potato and poultry producers are pleading with the government: curb chaotic imports, reopen land exports to Arab markets and guarantee fair prices to ensure their survival. The situation is both serious and absurd. In the agricultural sector, the talk is no longer about the weather but about ...

From Crisis to Record: Why Gold Just Topped $4,000 an Ounce

Gold's relentless rise reached another milestone on Wednesday as the precious metal hit $4,002.95 an ounce for the first time. "Investors continue to bid up the price of gold, with the precious metal rising more than 50 percent year to date and nearly 12 percent in September alone – one of the strongest monthly performances on record," said ...

Building Modern, Accessible Digital Finance for All

At a press conference on Friday at the Ministry’s headquarters, Finance Minister Yassine Jaber unveiled a roadmap to establish a digital financial administration that is efficient, transparent and citizen-focused. This transformation is built around four key pillars: Electronic Notifications Registered taxpayers now receive all official ...

When Art Becomes a Safe Haven

In an uncertain economic landscape, art is no longer just about decorating walls. For some, it represents a financial refuge where value can literally skyrocket in just a few years. A canvas like Pablo Picasso’s Les Femmes d’Alger (Version ‘O’) sold for more than $179 million, while Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Untitled (1982) fetched $110 ...