Lebanon balance of payments post $1.3bn H1 surplus

10 August 2010

BEIRUT: Central Bank figures show that Lebanon’s balance of payments posted a surplus of $1.3 billion in the first half of 2010 compared to a surplus of $2.1 billion in the same period last year as reported by Byblos Bank’s Lebanon This Week. The balance of payments posted a surplus of $105.8 million in June compared to a deficit of $194.8 million in May and a surplus of $443.3 million in June 2009. The June 2010 surplus was caused by a surplus of $104.6 million in the Central Bank’s net foreign assets and a surplus of $1 million in those of banks and financial institutions. The cumulative surplus over the first half of 2010 was caused by a surplus of $2.22 billion in the Central Bank’s net foreign assets and a deficit of $906 million in those of banks and financial institutions. The balance of payments posted a cumulative surplus of $7.9 billion in 2009 and 3.5 billion in 2008. – The Daily Star

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