The Central Bank of Lebanon vowed Thursday to maintain the stability of the Lebanese pound and of discount rates in the wake of the killing of former prime minister Rafik Hariri. "The stability of the exchange rate will be continuously maintained, and the discount rate will remain unchanged," Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh said in a statement. Banks and other businesses were due to open Friday with the end of three days of national mourning for Hariri, who was killed with 14 other people in a bombing Monday. "The Central Bank is present in the market to ensure the stability of the pound ... and liquidity in all currencies," the statement said. The pound has been stable for the past 12 years. It was trading at 1,515 to the dollar. Market analysts on Wednesday also expressed confidence in the Lebanese pound. The Central Bank's foreign currency reserves are estimated at 10 billion dollars. --SP 0042 Local Time 2142 GMT
