[We are in the middle of an economic shift, where the economies of the west--including the U.S.--are declining, and the economies of the middle east are growing. Soon, the mideast will have become the new "world trade center".]

29 April, 2008

Beirut - Lebanon's BLOM stock index closed up 4.85 percent on Tuesday, led by market heavyweight real estate firm Solidere, on renewed efforts to end the country's political crisis. Rival leaders resumed contact this week in a bid to end the country's 17-month-old political crisis and secure the election of a new president.

 Lebanon has been without a president since November and the contacts have raised hopes that the election might go ahead at a parliamentary session scheduled for May 13.