Lebanon
Natural gas discovery sparks debate in Lebanon over SWF
Potential discovery of natural gas off the shore of northern Israeli coast sparks debate among Lebanese government officials over whether to create a new sovereign wealth fund
Middle East and North Africa’s trade below potential
International Monetary Fund looks at trade constraints in the region
Lebanese banks compliant, insists governor
Riad Salame, the governor of the Bank of Lebanon, has countered allegations that the country's financial institutions illegally supported Hezbollah, a militant group.
Bank of Lebanon - Annual Report 2005/06
Lebanon's balance of payments recorded a positive result for the fourth consecutive year in 2005.
Bahrain hosting Lebanon central bank team
The Central Bank of Bahrain has hosted a five-member team of officials from Banque du Liban, the central bank of Lebanon.
Interview with Bank of Lebanon's Riad Salame
In an interview published Monday 30 October on the mmorning.com website, Bank of Lebanon governor Riad Salame talks about the challenges he has faced during the 13 years of his mandate.
Israeli economy resilient despite Lebanon war
According to this article published Thursday 28 September by Reuters, the damage to Israel's economy appears to be less than initially feared.
Central banker of the year announced
Several publications announced awards for the world's central bankers this week, including a Euromoney award for Lebanon' s central bank governor Riad Salameh for his management of the crisis during Israel's recent onslaught.
Lebanese governor speaks out on economic threats
The governor of Lebanon's central bank, Raid Salameh, has spoken about the strains on the country's economic recovery.
Lebanon's Salameh says currency 'stable'
Lebanon's currency is stable and its banks' reserves remain liquid despite the ongoing Israeli bombing campaign, the central bank governor said in an interview with Britain's Financial Times newspaper published Monday 24 July.
Belgian central bank chief on ship to Cyprus
National Bank of Belgium governor Guy Quaden and his family were evacuated from Lebanon by a ship bound for Cyprus, a bank spokesman was quoted as saying on Wednesday 20 July.
ECB's Quaden awaits evacuation from Lebanon
Belgian national bank governor Guy Quaden, also a board member of the European Central Bank, is set to be evacuated from Lebanon by Belgian authorities, where he was on vacation, his spokeswoman was quoted by Dow Jones as saying Tuesday 18 July.
Former Banque du Liban governor dies aged 91
Philippe Taqla, who held various official positions including governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, died recently aged 91.
Syria, Lebanon sign memorandum on money laundering
Syria and Lebanon signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday 24 May to fight money laundering and terrorist financing, the Syrian News Agency SANA reported.
What's the future for Lebanon's central bank?
According to this article published on Monday 30 January, changes need to be made soon at the Lebanese central bank to reflect developments in economic theory and in applied central banking.
Third Euro-Mediterranean central bank seminar
The third Euro-Mediterranean seminar, which brings together Eurosystem and non-euro area Mediterranean central banks, was jointly organised by the Bank of Greece and the European Central Bank and held in Nafplion on 25 January.
Former Bank of Lebanon governor dies
Edmond Naim, who as governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon from 1985-1991, kept the country's finances functioning during the last five years of the civil war, has died at the age of 88.
Shariah guidelines
Comments by delegates attending a conference on Islamic financial services in Luxembourg suggest that Shariah guidelines present a headache for central bankers.
Rating agency positive on Lebanon reserves
Leading international rating agency Standard & Poor's said on Monday 21 February that Lebanon's central bank foreign currency reserves will not be affected in the short term by the murder of former Premier Rafik Hariri.
Lebanon's central bank denies targeting Hamas
The Central Bank of Lebanon has attempted to deflect criticism of it by denying on Tuesday 23 September claims that it had issued a request to freeze the assets of Hamas and other Palestinian groups, according to The Daily Star.
Lebanon's Riad Salameh accentuates the positive
Lebanon's balance of payments recorded a big surplus of $2.5 billion until the end of June, central bank governor Riad Salameh said on Monday 11 August, according to a report by The Daily Star. He said he expected the growth in bank savings to reach an…
IMF report argues for dollar peg change in Jordan
An IMF working paper has recommended Lebanon and Jordan carefully consider pegging their currencies to the euro or for a peg to a basket of currencies, as opposed to the current US dollar peg, according to the Daily Star. "Both Lebanon and Jordan are…
Bankers say Lebanon not ready for Basel II
Delegates from Lebanese and Arab banks speaking at a bank conference said on Tuesday 10 June that financial institutions in the region need to invest more to comply with the rules of the Basel II agreement, according to the Daily Star.
Lebanon cb to increase forex reserves
Lebanese central bank governor Riad Salameh intends to increase foreign exchange reserves, currently at $10.2 billion, to absorb excess liquidity owing to the government's failure to launch any Treasury bills this year, according to a report in The Daily…