All monetary aggregates ended the week of February 18, 2021 on a positive note. The overall money supply, “M4”, soared by LBP 411.15 billion on a weekly basis and by 1.49% on an annual basis to LBP 212,861 billion, noting that the non-banking sector’s Treasury bills portfolio increased by LBP 13 billion during the concerned week.

In parallel, Lebanese-Pound denominated deposits and currency in circulation, “M1”, widened by LBP 476.34 million week-on-week to LBP 43,755 billion on the back of some LBP 306 billion expansion in currency in circulation, coupled with some LBP 170 billion increase in demand deposits. Local currency term deposits, “M2”, also rose by LBP 444.07 billion on a weekly basis and by 16.74% year-on-year to settle at LBP 70,446 billion.

Consequently, private sector term and saving deposits denominated in LBP (“M2-M1”) receded by LBP 32.27 billion (0.12%) to LBP 26,691 billion during the week of February 18, with deposits denominated in foreign currencies (“M3-M2”) sinking by LBP 46.17 billion (0.04%) to LBP 130,803 billion.