All monetary aggregates ended the week of August 20, 2020 on a positive note. In fact, the overall money supply, “M4”, soared by LBP 242.33 billion on a weekly basis yet fell by 7.41% on an annual basis to LBP 206,482 billion, noting that the non-banking sector’s Treasury bills portfolio rose by LBP 119 billion during the concerned week.

In parallel, Lebanese-Pound denominated deposits and currency in circulation, “M1”, widened by LBP 192.41 million week-on-week to LBP 29,873 billion on the back of some LBP 176 billion expansion in currency in circulation, coupled with some LBP 16 billion hike in demand deposits. Local currency term deposits, “M2”, increased by LBP 202.47 billion on a weekly basis yet plunged by 18.34% year-on-year to settle at LBP 59,900 billion.

Consequently, private sector term and saving deposits denominated in LBP (“M2-M1”) rose by LBP 10.05 billion (0.03%) to LBP 30,027 billion during the week of August 20, while deposits denominated in foreign currencies (“M3-M2”) sank by LBP 79.63 billion (0.06%) to reach LBP 135,293 billion.