Two private Syrian banks owned partially by foreign investors have taken steps to rebrand, in a move to reduce the risk for foreign shareholders a few months after the enactment of the Caesar Act.

The table below lists 68 companies known to be affiliated with Rami Makhlouf.

The two indices of the Damascus Securities Exchange made significant gains last month after the country’s two largest banks posted positive performances in 2019.

The assets of Syria’s private sector banking industry increased by 9.8 percent over the course of the first six months of this year but decreased in dollar terms due to the depreciation of the Syrian pound.

This table lists the main companies we have identified that are linked to the eight investors whose bank accounts were frozen on October 7, 2019.

The Central Bank of Syria has ordered a freeze on the bank accounts of Tarif Al-Akhras, one of the country’s most powerful businessmen and a relative of Asma Al-Assad, as well as on those of several other prominent businessmen, a move that seems to confirm the government’s increasing pressures on the business community.

This table lists all Syrian public joint-stock companies active as of July 2019 with the value of their capital (in million SYP).

The relatively stable situation in most of Syria has reflected positively on the performance of Syrian banks, which have broadly reported an improvement in their financial results last year.

Providing guarantees for loans to SMEs and microfinance projects

Syrian private sector banks continued to post a modest increase in their main indicators in the first half of this year, as Islamic lenders now represent almost 40 percent of the sector.

Syrian banks are expanding again their branch network as they seek to capitalize on the improving security situation across the country.

The main index of Syria’s stock exchange remained unchanged last month as trading volumes declined significantly.

The assets, credits and deposits at the 14 private sector banks in Syria. 

The operating income and profits of Syria's 14 private sector banks in 2017. All numbers are in million Syrian pounds.

The balance sheets and income statements of Syrian banks show an improvement in their performance last year.

This list of tables provides data on the main indicators of Syrian private sector banks as of June 30, 2017.

Updated on July 21, 2017: Syria’s private commercial banks, which saw last year their assets fall to a fraction of what they were in 2010 and now barely breakeven, are unable to finance any meaningful reconstruction drive.

Banque Bemo Saudi Fransi has entered talks to buy a controlling stake in Syria Gulf Bank, in the first such consolidation move since the liberalisation of Syria’s banking sector in 2004.

Following in the steps of two of its competitors, BLOM Bank, Lebanon’s second largest bank by the size of its assets, has deconsolidated its operations in Syria.

In January, stocks in the Damascus Securities Exchange surged to their highest levels in years as the end of the battle of Aleppo and the Russian-Turkish sponsored ceasefire attracted back investors.

The Court of Justice of the European Union has rejected the appeal by Tarif Al-Akhras, a leading Syrian businessman, to see his name removed from the European blacklist.

In dollar terms, the assets of Syria’s private sector banks declined by 25 percent on annual basis last year.

February saw an increasing interest by Syrian investors in the Damascus Securities Exchange.

Syria’s stock market index fell on Thursday below the 1,200 mark for the first time since September 2013.

Syria’s 14 private sector have released their preliminary results for last year, although changes in currency prices make it difficult to assess the health of the sector.

Following other banks, IBTF provided last week an assessment of the losses incurred in its Homs branch, located in the area previously under the control of the opposition.

Syria’s stock market index gained 0.23 percent last week to close at 1,220.85.

Pro-regime media outlets have published names of leading investors that reportedly owe their banks large sums of money.

A handful of stocks continue to dominate trading in the Syrian bourse amid low volumes.

Bank of Jordan Syria has announced the resignation of one of its board members.

Bank of Jordan Syria has announced the resignation of one of its board members.

A 40 percent rise in the assets of Islamic banks helped increase the Syrian pound value of the balance sheet of Syria’s private banking sector.

Syria’s stock market index increased sharply this week to rise above the 800 mark for the first time since last November.

Brokerage, IPO Management, Investment management, Advisory

Trading in banking stocks helped increase the total volume of trading in the Damascus Securities Exchange last week to levels not seen since March.

Trading in two banking stocks increased sharply the volume of transactions at the Damascus bourse last week although this did not prevent the continued decline in prices.

Syria’s stock market index has now fallen for 23 days in a row to close last week at 840.27 as the total value of shares traded stood at less than USD 30,000.

All stocks traded at the Damascus Securities Exchange fell again last week with the total value of shares falling more than 50 percent compared to the previous week.

The volume of trading slightly rose last week at the Syrian bourse although stock prices continued their decline.

Syrian stocks fell for the fifth week running with the Damascus Securities Exchange’s main index shedding 0.61 percent.

The aggregate balance sheet of Syria’s private sector commercial banks rose 13.4 percent on a quarterly basis in the first three months of this year thanks to a surge in the assets of Syria International Islamic Bank.

The week at the Damascus Securities Exchange was marked by the inclusion of Syria International Islamic Bank in a list of companies under sanctions by the United States and by a general decline in stock prices.

The Damascus Securities Exchange's main index, the DWX, closed at 872.23 on May 23, a weekly decline of 0.17 percent, with trade volumes slightly rising.

Syria’s stock market index remained unchanged last week although it has now fallen more than 50 percent in the year since the beginning of a popular uprising in March 2011. Some analysts speculate, however, that the market could rise again in the coming weeks as the decline in the real value of stocks caused by inflation could render them attractive again.

Trading at the Damascus Securities Exchange remained dull this week with the total value of stocks traded in the last three sessions at only SYP 16 million or around USD 228 thousand.

Syria’s stock exchange regained some life this week with the market’s main index rising by 0.86 percent and trading activity also increasing, although overall volumes remain very small.

Syria’s stock exchange remained stable this week with the market’s main index shedding only 0.08 percent.

Syria’s stock exchange began the year on a positive note with an increase of 1.83 percent in the market’s main index, the DWX.