Home » LEBANON BRIEF » Issue January 2017
Port of Beirut (PoB) recorded a slight 0.43% yearly increase in its revenues to reach $239.98M by December 2017. Total container activity including transshipment (TEU+TS) rose by a yearly rate of 13.76% to ... read more
According to the Central Administration of Statistics (CAS), Lebanon’s average inflation rate reached 4.8% in Q1 2017. The sub-indices“water, electricity, gas, and other fuels” (contributing 11.9% of CPI) ... read more
According to Beirut Stock Exchange (BSE), the Kuwaiti firm Mohamad Abed El Mohsen El Kharafi & Sons Co. for general contracting and industrial manufacturing, a corporate shareholder of Rasamny Younes ... read more
According to the Ministry of Tourism, the number of tourist arrivals by the end of 2016 rose by a yearly 11.23% to 1.69M by December. This rise was partly due to the political breakthrough in Lebanon by ... read more
As per BLC’s consolidated financial statements, net income climbed by 2.45% year on year (y-o-y) to stand at $45.2M in December 2016. In details, Net Fees & Commission Income, the bulk of BLC’s income ... read more
As per Bank of Beirut’s (BOB) consolidated income statement, BOB’s net income climbed by 6.42% year on year (y-o-y) to $198.62M in December 2016. The higher profit is mainly attributed to the 10.83% ... read more
BEMO Bank recorded a notable growth of 21.77% in its consolidated net income to $15.75M in December 2016, when compared to the same period last year. The boost in profits was triggered by the 5.85% and ... read more
According to the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL), the value of cleared checks declined by 5.54% year on year (y-o-y) by December 2016, whereby the number of checks cleared reached 12.32M worth ... read more
BLOM Bank announced today its un-audited financial results for the year 2016. The results continue to show the Bank’s solid performance despite the ongoing turbulence in the region. Net profit reached $463 ... read more
According to Bank Audi’s newly released financial statements, the bank’s consolidated net profit surged 16.61% year-on-year (y-o-y) to stand at $470.11M in 2016 despite the negative developments in Turkey ... read more
Construction activity showed a recovery by the end of 2016 to settle near 2012’s level. As revealed by data from the Orders of Engineers in Beirut and the North, the total number of permits rose by 13.29% ... read more
Data from the Customs revealed that the Lebanese trade deficit rose by 3.56% y-o-y to reach $15.65B by Dec. 2016, as imports climbed by 3.54% y-o-y to $18.7B, and exports increased by a yearly 3.45% to ... read more
According to Byblos Bank’s Consolidated Income Statement as at 31 December 2016, the bank registered a profit of $165.30M in 2016 compared to $161.48M in 2015. Net interest income and net fees and ... read more
The reports of the Ministry of Finance continued to show a reduction in the Transfers to EDL, which stood at $521.2M and corresponds to a 33.8% y-o-y decrease by August 2016. By Aug. 2016, the Transfers ... read more
Data published by the Central Administration of Statistics (CAS) revealed that average consumer prices declined by a mere 0.78% y-o-y by the end of 2016, as the average Consumer Price Index (CPI) ... read more
According to data from the Lebanese Cadastre Registry, real estate (R.E) activity marginally improved by Dec.2016. The number of RE transactions grew by a yearly 1.92% to reach 84,380 transactions. The ... read more
According to Ernst and Young’s Hotel Benchmark Survey, Beirut’s hotel occupancy rate in December 2016 increased by 6 percentage points (p.p) to stand at 64%, compared to 58% in the same period last year. ... read more
Ciments Blancs’ board of directors invited its shareholders to attend an extraordinary general assembly meeting set to take place at the company’s head office in Dbayeh, on Monday the 27th of June at 11:00 ... read more
The annual, cumulative revenues of the Port of Beirut (PoB) ended 2016 with an incremental increase of 0.02%, to stand at $238.96M, compared to $238.92M by December 2015. In details, total container ... read more
According to the balance sheet of the Lebanese Central Bank (BdL), total assets grew by 0.40% in mid- January year-to-date (y-t-d). On a monthly basis, total assets marginally dropped 0.08% from ... read more
According to Kafalat, the number of loan guarantees grew from 682 guarantees by December 2015 to 712 guarantees by December 2016. The overall value of the guarantees fell by 1.65% y-o-y to reach $92.91M by ... read more
Data from the Association of Lebanese Car Importers reveals a 6.67% y-o-y decline in the total number of newly-registered commercial and passenger cars by Dec.2016, to stand at 38,874 cars. The ... read more
The Rafic Hariri International Airport activity rose during 2016, as the total number of passengers increased by a yearly 6.63% to 7.71M. More specifically, the number of arrivals to Lebanon shot up by ... read more
According to Rymco’s June 2016 balance sheet, the company’s total assets grew by 22.46% year-on-year to $196.54M while total shareholders’ equity edged up by 3.72% year-on-year to $52.02M. The main drivers ... read more
According to the Association of Lebanese Banks, Lebanon’s gross public debt registered a rise of 6.02% since year-start and a 5.83% year-on-year increase to stand at $74.54B by November 2016, the ... read more
Lebanon’s Balance of Payments (BoP) recorded a surplus of $331.9M by Nov.2016 compared to a $2.98B deficit by Nov. 2015. The surplus is mainly an indirect result of the Swap Operation coordinated by BDL in ... read more
The Central Bank of Lebanon recently issued Intermediate Circular #446 entitled “Financial Operations and Activities in Financial Markets”. According to the circular, Lebanese banks must register the ... read more
The balance sheet of Lebanese commercial banks revealed an 8.05% year-to-date (YTD) progress in assets and a 9.7% year-on-year increase, to stand at $200.95B by Nov.2016. In particular, Reserves (44% of ... read more
Although total tourist spending in the first half of 2016 plunged by 14% y-o-y, it improved in the second half of 2016. According to Global Blue, tourist spending in 2016 recorded a decelerated plunge of ... read more
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Industry, the value of total industrial exports dropped from $255.3M in October 2015 to $220M in October 2016. The main exported products were Machinery and Mechanical ... read more
Banque Du Liban’s (BDL) Balance Sheet revealed a 12.56% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in assets to $102.3B by Dec.2016. BDL’s swap operation in July was mainly behind the 9.75% yearly uptick in the central ... read more
Data from the Customs reveal the Lebanese trade deficit spiraled by 6.3% y-o-y to reach $14.4B by Nov. 2016 as exports increased by a yearly 3.47% to $2.81B and imports rose by 5.81% y-o-y to $17.2B. In ... read more
The BLOM Bond Index (BBI) rose by a weekly 0.44% to reach 104.13 points as demand for medium and long term Lebanese Eurobonds increased. The Lebanese index was outpaced by the JP Morgan Emerging Markets’ ... read more
The BLOM Stock Index (BSI) ended the week with a 1.81% rise to stand at 1,238.28 points. With that, the Lebanese index would have outpaced all three of its regional peers, the S&P Pan Arab Composite ... read more
During the week ending January 19, Broad Money M3 contracted by a weekly LBP139B ($90M) to reach LBP 199,348B ($132.24B). However, M3 recorded a 7.16% annual increase and a 0.15% rise since the start of ... read more
Lebanese Forex Market Demand for the dollar on the Lebanese forex market increased over the past week, going from $/LP 1,514 within the range $/LP 1,513.75 – 1,514.25 on January 24th to a mid-price ... read more
Lebanese Forex Market Demand for the dollar on the Lebanese forex market decreased over the past week, going from $/LP 1,514.25 within the range $/LP 1,514 – 1,514.50 on January 20th to a mid-price ... read more
The BLOM Bond Index (BBI) declined by 0.32% over the past week to reach 103.67 points, and was outpaced by the JP Morgan Emerging Markets’ Bond Index which increased by a weekly 0.05% to 747.74 points. As ... read more
The Beirut Stock Exchange (BSE) ended the week with a 1.30% rise to stand at 1,216.29 points; moreover, the market capitalization rose from $10.10B last week to $10.23B this week. The average traded ... read more
The Beirut Stock Exchange (BSE) ended the week with a 1.30% rise to stand at 1,216.29 points; moreover, the market capitalization rose from $10.10B last week to $10.23B this week. The average traded volume ... read more
The BLOM Bond Index (BBI) rose by 0.22% over the past week to reach 104 points, outpacing the JP Morgan Emerging Markets’ Bond Index which decreased by a weekly 0.21% to 747.39 points. As such, the yield ... read more
The Beirut Stock Exchange (BSE) ended the week with a 0.52% drop as the real estate stocks’ negative performance dragged down the index. The BLOM Stock Index (BSI) fell to stand at 1,200.72 points with ... read more
During the week ending January 5, Broad Money M3 rose by a weekly LBP 333B ($221M) to reach LBP 199,374B ($132B). As such, M3 recorded a 7.03% annual increase and a 7% rise since the start of the year. M1 ... read more
Lebanese Forex Market Demand for the dollar on the Lebanese forex market increased over the past week, going from $/LP 1,514 within the range $/LP 1,513.75 – 1,514.25 on January13th to a mid-price of ... read more
Lebanese Forex Market Demand for the dollar on the Lebanese forex market decreased over the past two weeks, going from $/LBP 1,514.5 on Dec.30th to a mid-price of $/LP 1,514 within the range $/LP 1,513.75 ... read more
The BLOM Bond Index (BBI) rose by 1.8% over the past two weeks to reach 103.77 points, outpacing the JP Morgan Emerging Markets’ Bond Index which increased by a weekly 1.38% to 748.99 points. As such, the ... read more
The Beirut Stock Exchange (BSE) ended the past two weeks in the red as the poor performance of real estate stocks overshadowed the positive performance of most banking stocks. Since year-start, the BLOM ... read more
During the week ending December 22, Broad Money M3 rose by a weekly LBP 2,613B ($1.7B) to reach LBP 199,301B ($132B). As such, M3 recorded a 7.24% annual increase and a 7% rise since the start of the year. ... 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
BLOM PMI rose again in the first month of 2017, reflecting the slowest pace in economic contraction seen in a year. “This is good news, albeit the BLOM Lebanon PMI is taking its time to reach 50 and above. ... read more
During the month of December, Lebanon’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) recorded its highest reading since February, with the index standing at 47.0 points, still below the neutral mark of 50 points ... read more
Global bond markets fluctuated significantly during the year as a result of major international developments on both the political and economic front. As such, the Brexit vote, the U.S. presidential ... read more
“The reform agenda is known, but is now more urgent” notes the IMF staff in their 2016 Article IV Consultation for Lebanon. Indeed, a lot of ink has been poured on the needed reforms in Lebanon: Fiscal ... read more
Following several years of economic slowdown, the political breakthroughs that took place by the end of 2016 bolstered optimism regarding the coming year and potential prospects of easing the strains on ... read more
2016 can be described as a revolutionary year in terms of political and economic events. The world’s main movers saw their equities heavily fluctuate after the occurrence of each development topped by the ... read more