Damascus stock exchange reopens in Syria as the war-torn country aims to rebuild its economy

Trading resumed on the Damascus Securities Exchange Monday after a six-month closure, as Syria’s new leaders attempt to shore up the country’s battered economy and begin rebuilding after nearly 14 years of civil war. The stock exchange had closed during the chaotic days leading up to the ouster of former President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive. Syrian Finance Minister Mohammed Yisr Barnieh, who attended the reopening, said that it signals that the country’s economy is beginning to recover and that the stock exchange “will operate as a private company and serve as a genuine hub for Syria’s economic development, with a strong focus on digital,” state-run news agency SANA reported. He said the country’s new leaders plan to “facilitate business operations and open doors to promis