Regional equity markets

Beirut SE   Current year high: 1,111.39    Current year low: 912.21 >  Review period: Closed April 25 at 924.62 points Period Change: -1.1% With government formation stuck for a third month, the BSE failed to excite and the market finished the review period treading negative territory. Shares of actively-traded Bank Audi shed 3.7% and Byblos shares inched up 1% during the review period. Shares of market cap leader Solidere moved about as much as the Lebanese cabinet. Bank of Beirut reported a 1.38% YoY increase in Q1 2011 net profits to $20 million. For good news, the Lebanese central bank and Washington both denied rumors of US Treasury Department hunting more Lebanese banks for money laundering. Amman SE   Current year high: 2,575.47                Current year low: 2,149.11 > Review period: Closed April 26 at 2,202.38 points Period Change: 1.23% After hitting a multi-year low in March, Jordanian stocks rebounded in early April