Editing Syrian pound (section)

===Independence===
The Lebanese and Syrian currencies split in 1948. From 1961, a series of official exchange rates were in operation, alongside a parallel, black market rate which reflected the true market rate for Syrian pounds in Jordan and Lebanon where there was a healthy trade in the Syrian currency. The market was allowed to flourish because everybody, including government and public sector companies, needed it. The black market rate diverged dramatically from the official rate in the 1980s.<ref>[http://www.euromoney.com/Article/1451566/Syria-The-businessman-cant-play-his-hand.html Syria: The businessman can't play his hand] Euromoney May 1986.</ref> In July 2007, the currency was pegged to the IMF SDR ([[Special Drawing Rights]]).<ref name="xdr-peg">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/syria-ends-pounds-peg-to-us-dollar/article17996698/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com&|title=Syria ends pound's peg to U.S. dollar|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=5 June 2007}}</ref>