Lebanon’s Balance of Payments (BoP) recorded a surplus of $131.0M in the first seven months of 2014, compared to a deficit of $957.2M in the same period the prior year, despite the widening trade deficit. Net Foreign Assets (NFAs) of the Lebanese Central Bank (BdL) swelled by $3.73B by July, while that of commercial banks plummeted by $3.60B.
Taking the month of July alone, Lebanon’s BoP revealed a smaller deficit of $84.7M, compared to a deficit of $560.7M in June. NFAs of BdL grew by $669.5M, subsequent to a rise of $969.7M the previous month. During the same month, NFAs of commercial banks declined by $754.2M, following a bigger plunge of $1.53B in June.
Balance of Payments by July ($M)
Source: Banque du Liban