Lebanon’s Bank Deposits and Real Estate amid the Crisis

Abstract According to the consolidated balance sheet of Lebanese banks, total deposits dropped yearly by 8.50% ($15B) to reach $162.37B in December 2019. However contrary to recent evidence, this large ... read more

BDL Foreign Assets Down by 8.18% YTD to $34.22B in mid-May 2020

According to the central bank’s (BDL) balance sheet, total assets rose by 5.48% since year-start, to stand at $149.10B in mid-May 2020. In fact, this can be mainly attributed to the rise in “Gold” account ... read more

Sale of Bank Audi – Egypt to First Abu Dhabi Bank Halted amid Uncertain Future Outlook

Audi Bank released an official announcement on May 18th 2020 in which it clarified its mutual agreement with First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) to stop the transaction concerned with the sale of its fully-owned ... read more

Number of Real Estate Transactions UP by 16.58%YOY to 14,068 in Q1 2020

According to the data from the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (LRC), the number of real estate (R.E) transactions which may include one or more realties, rose by a yearly 16.58% to stand ... read more

Lebanon’s Erupted Protests and the Ensuing Economic Crisis Materialized in a Fiscal Deficit of $670.4M in January 2020

The cash-basis fiscal deficit of Lebanon climbed to a 10-year high of $670.4M in Jan. 2020, after registering a $72.83M deficit in the same period last year. In fact, the national developments since ... read more

Lebanon’s Trade Deficit Down by 36% YOY at $1.43 by February 2020

During the first 2 months of 2020, Lebanon’s trade deficit totaled $1.43B, narrowing from the $2.23B registered in the same period last year. In fact, total imported goods retreated by 24% year-on-year ... read more

Hospitality KPIs across the Middle East were Hit Hard in Q1 2020 amid Coronavirus Lockdowns

In a regional analysis of the hospitality sector performance presented by Ernst & Young’s Middle East (ME) Hotel Benchmark Survey, key performance indicators (KPIs) of Arab capitals hit unprecedented ... read more

Lebanon’s Balance of Payments Deficit at $1.06B in Q1 2020

According to BDL’s latest monetary report, the BOP recorded a cumulative deficit of $1.09B in the first quarter of 2020, compared to a deficit of $2.15B in Q1 last year. Accordingly, Net foreign Assets ... read more

Total Value of Cleared Checks Up by 8.5% to $16.08B in Q1 2020

The total number of cleared checks in the Lebanese financial system slumped from 2.65M checks in Q1 2019 to 1.85M checks in Q1 this year, as per the data published by the Association of Lebanese Banks’ ... read more

BDL Foreign Assets Down by 7.64% YTD to $34.42B in April 2020

According to the central bank’s (BDL) balance sheet, total assets recorded an increase by 5.31% since year-start, to stand at $148.86B in April 2020. In fact, this can be mainly attributed to the rise in ... read more

Lebanese Commercial Banks’ Total Assets Down Year to Date by 3.80% to $208.55B in March. 2020

According to Lebanon’s consolidated commercial banks’ balance sheet, total assets decreased by 3.80%, year-to-date (y-t-d), to stand at $208.55B in March 2020. In details, Resident customers’ deposits ... read more

Rouba Chbeir
Economic Digest
April 29, 2020

Beirut’s Hotel Occupancy Rate at Lows of 28% by Feb. 2020, as the Hospitality Sector Grapples with the Global Pandemic

According to Ernst & Young Middle East hotel benchmark survey, the occupancy rate in Beirut’s 4- and 5-star hotels slipped to an all-time low of 28% by February 2020, down from last year’s registered ... read more

Transfers to EDL Fell by $250.71M by November 2019

According to the Ministry of Finance, transfers to EDL witnessed a yearly drop of 15.4% to reach $ 1.37B by November 2019. In details “Payments to fuel and oil gas suppliers KPC and SPC” (which grasped ... read more

Port of Beirut’s Total container activity including transshipment down by 24% YOY in Q1 2020

According to the latest figures published by the Port of Beirut (PoB), the Port’s revenues fell by 30.33% year-on-year (YOY) to $12.37M in the first month of the year. In details, Total container activity ... read more

Rouba Chbeir
Economic Digest
April 27, 2020

Total Value of Cleared Checks Added 28.37% to $12.5B by February 2020

The Association of Lebanese Banks’ (ABL) data showed that the total number of cleared checks in the first two months of 2020 declined by 14.3% year-on-year (YOY) to stand at 1.46M checks as consumers opt ... read more

BDL Circular No. 151 Enables Bank Depositors to Convert their Foreign Currency Accounts to Lebanese Lira at Market Rates

The central bank issued on April 21, 2020 a circular No. 151, allowing each depositor with foreign currency accounts exceeding $3,000 in value, to withdraw cash in Lebanese lira at market rate on the ... read more

Gross Public Debt Up Yearly by 8.2% to $92.24B by February 2020

According to the data released by the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Lebanese gross public debt increased by an annual 8.2% to settle at $92.24B by February 2020. In details, local currency debt (denominated ... read more

Rouba Chbeir
Economic Digest
April 22, 2020

BDL Foreign Assets Fell by 6.9% YTD to $34.7B mid-April 2020

According to the central bank’s (BDL) balance sheet, Total assets increased by 4.5% year-to-date (YTD) to reach $147.7B in mid-April 2020. The breakdown of the balance sheet links this uptick to a notable ... read more

Lebanese Commercial Banks’ Total Assets Down monthly by 2.97% to $210.30B in Feb. 2020

According to Lebanon’s consolidated commercial banks’ balance sheet, total assets decreased by 2.97%, year-to-date (y-t-d), to stand at $210.33B in February 2020. In details, Resident customers’ deposits ... read more

Daily Capital Markets’ Performance

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

The Balance of Payments Deficit Stood at $505.3M by February 2020

According to Lebanon’s Central Bank (or BDL), the Balance of Payments (BOP) recorded a deficit of $505.3M in the second month of the year, compared to a deficit $1.9B in the same period last year. In ... read more

BDL Circular No. 148 Enables Small Bank Depositors to Withdraw their Money Despite Capital Controls

The central bank’s Circular No. 148 published on April 03rd 2020, stipulates that BDL allowed small Lebanese depositors whose bank deposits do not exceed LBP 5M, to perform withdrawal and/or other cash ... read more

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The content of this blog is for information purposes only. The information herein has been compiled from, or based upon sources we believe to be reliable, but we do not guarantee or accept responsibility for its completeness or accuracy. This document should not be construed as a solicitation to take part in any investment, or as constituting any representation or warranty on our part. The consequences of any action taken on the basis of information contained herein are solely the responsibility of the recipient.

Overview of the Lebanese Economy in 2019

Overview of the Lebanese Economy in 2019

Analysis of Lebanon’s Banking Deposits: 2018-2019

Analysis of Lebanon’s Banking Deposits: 2018-2019

A Guideline to Orderly Debt Restructurings: With Special Reference to Lebanon

A Guideline to Orderly Debt Restructurings: With Special Reference to Lebanon

Central Administration of Statistics: Lebanon’s National Accounts 2018

Central Administration of Statistics: Lebanon’s National Accounts 2018

Contributions to Growth in the Lebanese Economy: The Need to Invigorate Domestic Sources

Contributions to Growth in the Lebanese Economy: The Need to Invigorate Domestic Sources

BLOMINVEST BANK launches BRITE, a free economic data portal for the region

BLOMINVEST BANK launches BRITE, a free economic data portal for the region

The Current State of “Wine”

The Current State of “Wine”

Lebanon’s Bank Deposits and Real Estate amid the Crisis

BDL Foreign Assets Down by 8.18% YTD to $34.22B in mid-May 2020

Sale of Bank Audi – Egypt to First Abu Dhabi Bank Halted amid Uncertain Future Outlook

Number of Real Estate Transactions UP by 16.58%YOY to 14,068 in Q1 2020

Lebanon’s Erupted Protests and the Ensuing Economic Crisis Materialized in a Fiscal Deficit of $670.4M in January 2020

Lebanon’s Trade Deficit Down by 36% YOY at $1.43 by February 2020

Hospitality KPIs across the Middle East were Hit Hard in Q1 2020 amid Coronavirus Lockdowns

Lebanon’s Balance of Payments Deficit at $1.06B in Q1 2020

Total Value of Cleared Checks Up by 8.5% to $16.08B in Q1 2020

BDL Foreign Assets Down by 7.64% YTD to $34.42B in April 2020

Lebanese Commercial Banks’ Total Assets Down Year to Date by 3.80% to $208.55B in March. 2020

Beirut’s Hotel Occupancy Rate at Lows of 28% by Feb. 2020, as the Hospitality Sector Grapples with the Global Pandemic

Transfers to EDL Fell by $250.71M by November 2019

Port of Beirut’s Total container activity including transshipment down by 24% YOY in Q1 2020

Total Value of Cleared Checks Added 28.37% to $12.5B by February 2020

BDL Circular No. 151 Enables Bank Depositors to Convert their Foreign Currency Accounts to Lebanese Lira at Market Rates

Gross Public Debt Up Yearly by 8.2% to $92.24B by February 2020

BDL Foreign Assets Fell by 6.9% YTD to $34.7B mid-April 2020

Lebanese Commercial Banks’ Total Assets Down monthly by 2.97% to $210.30B in Feb. 2020

Daily Capital Markets’ Performance

The Balance of Payments Deficit Stood at $505.3M by February 2020

BDL Circular No. 148 Enables Small Bank Depositors to Withdraw their Money Despite Capital Controls

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Overview of the Lebanese Economy in 2019

Analysis of Lebanon’s Banking Deposits: 2018-2019

A Guideline to Orderly Debt Restructurings: With Special Reference to Lebanon

Central Administration of Statistics: Lebanon’s National Accounts 2018

Contributions to Growth in the Lebanese Economy: The Need to Invigorate Domestic Sources

BLOMINVEST BANK launches BRITE, a free economic data portal for the region

The Current State of “Wine”