Lebanon’s net total public debt rose 1.97 percent in December 2000 to $23.24 billion from $22.79 billion in November. Net domestic debt decreased 0.18 percent to $16.27 billion, as part of it was reportedly converted into foreign currency debt, while external debt went up by 7.39 percent to $6.49 billion, boosted by the government’s issuance of a new eurobond maturing in December 2004.
On a year-to-year basis, net domestic debt increased 13.90 percent from $14.29 billion in December 1999, while external debt went up 26.99 percent from $5.49 billion.
The BDL’s (Banque du Liban) broad measure of economic activity in Lebanon, the coincident indicator—an average of several weighted economic indicators—decreased 2.06 percent in December 1999 to 194.7.
On a year-to-year basis, the indicator dropped 0.82 percent from 196.3 in December 1999. — (Banque du Liban et d'Outre-Mer Sal)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
