All monetary aggregates ended the week of December 24, 2020 on a positive note. The overall money supply, “M4”, soared by LBP 501.47 billion on a weekly basis, yet fell by 1.76% on an annual basis to LBP 210,947 billion, noting that the non-banking sector’s Treasury bills portfolio rose by LBP 92 billion during the concerned week.

In parallel, Lebanese-Pound denominated deposits and currency in circulation, “M1”, widened by LBP 829.35 million week-on-week to LBP 39,905 billion on the back of some LBP 472 billion expansion in currency in circulation, coupled with some LBP 357 billion increase in demand deposits. Local currency term deposits, “M2”, also expanded by LBP 669.22 billion on a weekly basis and by 5.38% year-on-year to settle at LBP 67,512 billion.

Consequently, private sector term and saving deposits denominated in LBP (“M2-M1”) receded by LBP 160.13 billion (0.58%) to LBP 27,607 billion during the week of December 24, with deposits denominated in foreign currencies (“M3-M2”) sinking by LBP 260.08 billion (0.20%) to reach LBP 131,800 billion.