“The governor has assured...that the stability of the exchange rate will continue and discount rates will remain unchanged,” it said in its first statement since the killing.

“Banque du Liban is present in the markets to ensure liquidity in all currencies.”

Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, appointed by Hariri, has maintained the pound within a narrow band of 1,501-1,514 against the dollar for years.

The killing of Hariri in a bombing on Monday stunned the Lebanese business community, which saw the billionaire construction tycoon as the debt-laden country’s only hope for economic revival after the 1975-1990 civil war.

While disliked by many Lebanese who accuse him of profiting from the post-war reconstruction drive, Hariri is credited with stabilising the Lebanese pound, which was once in free-fall.

Lebanese banks and the central bank itself have closed for three days of mourning in the aftermath of Hariri’s killing, which bankers said would give the markets time to digest the attack.

Markets are due to reopen on Friday.    Bankers expect the pound to come under heavy pressure in the coming weeks with many investors converting their holdings out of the local currency into dollars and euros or even pulling their capital out of the country.

But they say the central bank has enough foreign currency reserves to keep the pound within its existing band in the short run, although it may have to dig deep into its pockets to do so.