The BSI retreated by 7.67 percent on a year to date basis. Out of the 26 listed stocks on the Beirut Stock Exchange, 12 were traded this week of which eight gained in price while the remaining four stocks went down. Contrary to the norm, Solidere stocks represented only 21 percent of the total value traded, whereas banking shares constituted some 78 percent.

In the banking sector, BLOM GDR and listed both increased this week as they gained 0.75 percent and 1.52 percent respectively to close at $67. The former recorded trades of 1,300 shares at $86,812 while the latter had a volume of 62,100 shares valued at $3.75M.

Audi bank's GDR stock gained 1.18 percent to $44.5 following trades of 9,175 shares worth $405,926. However, Audi listed dropped by 3.5 percent to $41.97 after trades of 12,200 shares with a value of $512,069.

As for Byblos bank, its priority stock went up slightly by 0.6 percent to $1.69 with a volume and value of 16,200 shares and $27,323. Moreover, its preferred stock class 2008 recorded a single trade of 510 shares at $49,470 that led its price to rise by 1.04 percent to $97. Nevertheless, Byblos Common stock lost 3.51 percent to close at $1.65 on trades of 1,236,000 shares priced at $1.98 million.

As for Bank of Beirut, its preferred stock class D soared by 7.72 percent to $27.2 following a unitary trade of 2,300 shares valued at $62,560. Its preferred stock class C also underwent a sole trade of 1,000 shares at $27,000 that led its price to rise by 0.93 percent to $27.

The banks' preferred share index (BPSI) increased this week by 1.17 percent to 102.92, up from 101.73 recorded a week earlier.

In international markets, BLOM GDR maintained its price at $65 after 2,760 shares were traded at $190,000. However, Audi GDR gained 3.7 percent to close at $44.6 following trades of 760 shares with a value of $30,000. It is worth noting that Byblos GDR started trading on the London Stock Exchange on Thursday, closing the day at $79.

Solidere stocks A and B reversed last week's gains, falling by 3.89 percent and 3.8 percent to $15.81 and $15.7 respectively. The former recorded trades of 85,923 shares worth $1.37 million while the latter traded 31,509 shares at $500,395.

On the London Stock Exchange, Solidere GDR dropped by 6.25 percent to $15 following trades of 36,433 shares worth $580,000.

In the manufacturing sector, HOLCIM Liban rose by 4.95 percent to $12.5 following a single trade of 87 shares valued at $1,088.

No trades were recorded in the retail sector

No over-the-counter trades were recorded in the tourism sector. -BlomInvest Bank's The Lebanon Brief