The lure of an easy buck is tempting for many, and as online trading becomes ever more accessible in Lebanon there are many who are ready to put their savings on the table. As with everything that seems too good to be true, however, the pitfalls are plentiful and inexperienced traders will quickly find themselves prey to the sharks of the market. The number of online brokerages in Lebanon has been steadily swelling in recent years, with four launched in 2011 alone. Banque du Liban (BDL), Lebanon’s central bank, has 13 registered financial brokers, of which nine have online services. Also offering online trading platforms are many of Lebanon’s other financial institutions, including the major banks. What online brokers offer investors is easy access to the financial markets and the opportunity to trade a wide variety of securities from anywhere in the world, through a desktop, laptop or smartphone. “Everyone
