All monetary aggregates ended the week of January 7, 2021 on a positive note. The overall money supply, “M4”, soared by LBP 409.05 billion on a weekly basis, yet fell by 1.06% on an annual basis to LBP 211,178 billion, noting that the non-banking sector’s Treasury bills portfolio decreased by LBP 15 billion during the concerned week.

In parallel, Lebanese-Pound denominated deposits and currency in circulation, “M1”, widened by LBP 958.27 million week-on-week to LBP 40,913 billion on the back of some LBP 873 billion expansion in currency in circulation, coupled with a LBP 85 billion increase in demand deposits. Local currency term deposits, “M2”, also rose by LBP 710.28 billion on a weekly basis and by 8.12% year-on-year to settle at LBP 68,166 billion.

Consequently, private sector term and saving deposits denominated in LBP (“M2-M1”) receded by LBP 248.00 billion (0.90%) to LBP 27,253 billion during the week of January 7, with deposits denominated in foreign currencies (“M3-M2”) sinking by LBP 286.45 billion (0.22%) to reach LBP 131,501 billion.