VOL. XLII

No 49

6-December-1999

LEBANON

Lebanese Banks: Operating In a Fragile Environment

The Lebanese banking sector is expected to post a lessfavorable performance in 1999 (compared to 1998) and, according tointernational ratings agencies, the performance outlook for 2000 is negative,mainly due to the fragile economic environment in which the banks areoperating. Their passivity in the face of the deteriorating macroeconomicclimate is, according to bank ratings analysts, unavoidable because of...