VOL. XLV

No 11

18-March-2002

LEBANON

B2/B3 Rating For Lebanon ReflectsDebt Burden, Says Moodys

Lebanonslow speculative grade ratings are largely the product of the countrys enormouspublic sector debt, according to the latest annual report on the country issuedby Moodys Investors Service on 6 March. Lebanonspublic sector debt stood at 170% of GDP at the end of 2001. The agency notedthat the countrys ceilings for foreign currency debt and deposits are B2 andthe domestic currency debt rating is B3....