BEIRUT: The Lebanese pound edged higher for a second straight day Friday, trading at LL8,750 to the dollar on the black market, as a full lockdown to stem a surge of COVID-19 cases hit demand for the greenback.

Exchange dealers were selling the dollar for LL8,800 and buying it for LL8,700, compared to LL8,900-LL8,800 on Thursday.

Dealers said demand for the American currency weakened since Lebanon began Thursday a 24-hour curfew and a wide-ranging closure of businesses, including banks but exempting exchange dealers, after a dramatic rise in coronavirus cases pushed the health sector to the brink.

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