Home » LEBANON BRIEF » Issue January 2019
Housing Loans Since it stopped subsidizing housing loans, the BDL issued circular 515 to the banks and financial institutions on Wednesday January 30 to reactivate the program by allocating a total of ... read more
BLOM Bank published today its unaudited financial results for 2018. In a difficult environment characterized by a slowing economy, higher taxes, and continuing political paralysis, BLOM Bank managed to ... read more
BLC Bank Financial Highlights in 2018 (in $M) Dec-18 Dec-17 Y-o-Y Total Assets 5,895.37 5,867.19 0.48% Loans and Advances to Customers 1,607.47 ... read more
According to the consolidated financial statements of Bank Audi, the bank’s profits increased by a yearly 7.92% to settle at $500.56M in 2018. In fact, “Net interest margin” posted a yearly 9.40% growth to ... read more
2018: Byblos Bank’s Financial Highlights (in $ million) Dec-18 Dec-17 Y-o-Y Net Total Assets 25,000.60 22,661.50 10.32% Net Loans and Advances to Customers at ... read more
According to the consolidated unaudited balance sheet of Bank of Beirut, total assets rose by a yearly 2.91% to $18.90B in 2018. In details, “Net Loans & Advances to Customers at amortized cost” and ... read more
According to Bank BEMO’s unaudited consolidated financial statements, the bank’s profit for 2018 totaled $18.89M compared to $18.43M last year. In fact, the Net interest income grew by 26.85% to $35.21M by ... read more
Within the framework of the European Union-funded “Promotion of Social Justice” project; the Ministry of Labor, in collaboration with the GOPA (Group of Policy Advisers) published a report aiming to shed ... read more
According to the Ministry of Tourism, the number of tourists visiting Lebanon, in 2018, displayed a 5.77% year-on-year (y-o-y) progress, where the total number of tourists went up from 1.86M to 1.96M. This ... read more
The Revenues at the Port of Beirut (POB) witnessed a decline of 3.52% during 2018 to reach $231.53M. Total container activity including transshipment (TEU+TS) rose by a yearly rate of 0.06% to 1,305,754 ... read more
In the week of January 10th 2019, official statements regarding a debt restructuring plan for Lebanon rattled the Eurobonds market, but they were later disregarded and followed by news on Qatar investing ... read more
Given the slow economic conditions in Lebanon, the number of Kafalat loan guarantees slumped yearly by 43.94% by December 2018 to reach 310. Accordingly, the overall value of the guarantees dropped by ... read more
According to the Central Administration of Statistics (CAS), the Lebanese economy’s average inflation rate stood at 6.07% year-on-year (y-o-y) by the end of 2018 since the average Consumer Price Index ... read more
The current economic slowdown has negatively weighed on the construction sector during 2018. According to the Orders of Engineers in Beirut and Tripoli, the number of construction permits slumped by 16.37% ... read more
According to the Association of Lebanese Banks (ABL), the value of cleared checks recorded a yearly decrease by 2.46% to reach $66.56 Billion (B) by December 2018. Likewise, the total number of cleared ... read more
The Beirut Stock Exchange (BSE) released a statement by BLC which details two block trades of the bank’s ordinary shares conducted on January 11th 2019. Details of the Two Trade Blocks performed on BLC’s ... read more
According to the Ministry of Finance, transfers to EDL witnessed a significant yearly increase of 37.87% to reach $ 1.23B by September 2018. In details “Payments to fuel and oil gas suppliers KPC and SPC” ... read more
According to the data from the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (LRC), the number of real estate (RE) transactions which may include one or more realties registered an annual ... read more
According to Global Blue, tourist spending in Lebanon rose by 10.46% YTD, affecting positively the YTD- year-to-date growth rate that reached 6.45% by December 2017. The number of refund transactions rose ... read more
According to the Association of Lebanese Car Importers (AIA), the total number of newly registered commercial and passenger cars deteriorated by an annual 11.46% to stand at 35,301 by the end of 2018. ... read more
According to the Association of Lebanese Banks (ABL), the value of cleared checks recorded a yearly decrease by 1.45% to reach $61.08 Billion (B) by November 2018. Likewise, the total number of cleared ... read more
According to the latest report published by Ernst & Young, Beirut’s hotel occupancy rate maintained almost the same rate as last year, and stood at 64.6% by November 2018. The average room rate (ARR) ... read more
The Central Bank’s (BDL’s) balance sheet ended the year with an 18.89% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in its total assets which stood at $140.60B by the end of 2018. In fact, “Loans to local financial ... read more
According to Lebanon’s consolidated commercial banks’ balance sheet, total assets grew by 12.12% year-to-date (y-t-d), to stand at $246.51B by November 2018. In details, Currency and deposits with BDL ... read more
The difficult economic situation and political deadlock in the country are still weighing on its external balance. According to the Central Bank of Lebanon, the balance of payments recorded a deficit of ... read more
According to the central bank of Lebanon, Cement deliveries declined by an annual 4.38% by October 2018 to stand at 4.08M tons. In fact, the number of construction permits also decreased by a yearly 15.94% ... read more
Discover today’s performance of BLOM indices, the closing prices of Lebanese stocks and Eurobonds, as well as the exchange rate of major currencies against the LBP. read more
Discover today’s performance of BLOM indices, the closing prices of Lebanese stocks and Eurobonds, as well as the exchange rate of major currencies against the LBP. read more
After 9 months of delay, Lebanon’s government formation has improved Lebanon’s Eurobonds’prices. .In fact, Lebanon’s BLOM Bond Index (BBI) increased this week by 4.89% to reach 92.60 points the highest ... read more
Lebanese Forex Market The Lebanese Pound steadied this week within the range of $/LP 1,514 – 1,514.5 against the dollar with a mid-price of $/LP 1,514.25. The peg continues to be supported by ... read more
In the week ending January 17rd 2019, Broad Money (M3) fell by a weekly LBP 913B ($605M) to stand at LBP 210,028B ($139B), adding 0.51% year-on-year (y-o-y) and decreasing by 0.99% since the start of the ... read more
The BLOM Stock Index (BSI) rose by 0.24% to reach 949.06 points over the last week. The market capitalization increased from $9.23B last week to $9.25B to this week. On average 58,742 shares worth $415,815 ... read more
Discover today’s performance of BLOM indices, the closing prices of Lebanese stocks and Eurobonds, as well as the exchange rate of major currencies against the LBP. read more
Discover today’s performance of BLOM indices, the closing prices of Lebanese stocks and Eurobonds, as well as the exchange rate of major currencies against the LBP. read more
Lebanese Forex Market The Lebanese Pound steadied this week within the range of $/LP 1,514 – 1,514.5 against the dollar with a mid-price of $/LP 1,514.25. The peg continues to be supported by the ... read more
The BLOM Stock Index (BSI) fell by 1.12% to reach 946.78 points over the last week. The market capitalization decreased from $9.33B last week to $9.23B to this week. On average 103,404 shares worth $ ... read more
Lebanon’s BLOM Bond Index (BBI) increased this week by 5.64% to reach 88.28 points. As such, the yields on 5Y and 10Y Lebanese Eurobonds declined by 155 and 112 basis points (bps) each to reach and ... read more
In the week ending January 10rd 2019, Broad Money (M3) fell by a weekly LBP 205B ($136M) to stand at LBP 210,904B ($140B), adding 0.95% year-on-year (y-o-y) and decreasing by 0.56% since the start of the ... read more
Discover today’s performance of BLOM indices, the closing prices of Lebanese stocks and Eurobonds, as well as the exchange rate of major currencies against the LBP. read more
Discover today’s performance of BLOM indices, the closing prices of Lebanese stocks and Eurobonds, as well as the exchange rate of major currencies against the LBP. read more
Discover today’s performance of BLOM indices, the closing prices of Lebanese stocks and Eurobonds, as well as the exchange rate of major currencies against the LBP. read more
Lebanese Forex Market The Lebanese Pound steadied this week within the range of $/LP 1,514 – 1,514.5 against the dollar with a mid-price of $/LP 1,514.25. The peg continues to be supported by the ... read more
The BLOM Stock Index (BSI) fell by 1.50% to reach 957.53 points over the last week. The market capitalization decreased from $9.47B last week to $9.33B to this week. On average 291,418 of shares worth ... read more
In the week ending January 3rd 2019, Broad Money (M3) fell by a weekly LBP 986B ($654M) to stand at LBP 211,146B ($140B), adding 1.04% year-on-year (y-o-y). In details, M1 narrowed by LBP 923B ($612M) over ... read more
Discover today’s performance of BLOM indices, the closing prices of Lebanese stocks and Eurobonds, as well as the exchange rate of major currencies against the LBP. read more
Discover today’s performance of BLOM indices, the closing prices of Lebanese stocks and Eurobonds, as well as the exchange rate of major currencies against the LBP. read more
Lebanese Forex Market The Lebanese Pound steadied this week within the range of $/LP 1,514 – 1,514.5 against the dollar with a mid-price of $/LP 1,514.25. The peg continues to be supported by ... read more
Lebanon’s BLOM Bond Index (BBI) declined this week, by 2.35% to reach 85.56 points. As such, the 5 year (5Y) and 10Y Lebanese Eurobonds, increased by 79 and 35 basis points (bps) each to reach 11.85% and ... read more
The BLOM Stock Index (BSI) fell by 0.33% to reach 972.12 points over the last week. The market capitalization decreased from $9.50B last week to $9.47B to this week. On average 2.37M of shares worth ... read more
During the week ending December 27, Broad Money (M3) increased by a weekly LBP 1,240B ($823M) to stand at LBP 212,132B ($140.72B). M3 added 1.64% and 1.94% on a yearly basis and since the start of the ... read more
In the first week of 2019, Lebanon’s BLOM Bond Index (BBI) recorded a downtick of 1.24%, closing at 87.62 points. The BBI’s performance was outpaced by the JP Morgan Emerging Markets’ Bond Index (EMBI), ... read more
Lebanese Forex Market The Lebanese Pound steadied this week within the range of $/LP 1,514 – 1,514.5 against the dollar with a mid-price of $/LP 1,514.25. The peg continues to be supported by the ... read more
The BLOM Stock Index (BSI) fell by 0.15% to reach 975.33 points over the last week. The market capitalization decreased from $9.52B last week to $9.50B to this week. On average 21,724 of shares worth ... read more
During the week ending December 20, Broad Money (M3) increased by a weekly LBP 182B ($121M) to stand at LBP 210,892B ($139.89M). On a yearly basis, M3 added 1.27% and recorded an uptick by 1.35% since the ... read more
The BLOM Lebanon Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) slid from 46.7 in November 2018 to 46.2 in December 2018 and therefore ended 2018 below the average of 46.3 for the year. The PMI readings therefore ... read more
Net Profit($ mn) ROACE (%) ROAA(%) Cost-to-Income (%) BLOM 510.42 16.49 1.47 35.30 Audi 500.55 14.00 1.10 48.05 BoB 210.19 13.08 1.13 43.37 Byblos 164.52 8.76 0.70 51.20 The un-audited ... read more
Following 2017, which saw strong gains in asset prices and record low volatility, 2018 was anything but calm. Although, global markets have started the first half of the year in rally due to strong ... read more
Abstract Multiple reports and the latest social feeds continue to highlight Lebanon’s grim economic outlook, the reason why identifying new strategies to nurture Lebanon’s growth today is crucial. In this ... read more
In Lebanon, constant disappointment on the political front prevailed. Failure to form a government for more than 8 months coupled with a peaking balance of payments and fiscal deficit has taken its toll on ... read more
