Economy

Frequent Flyer club profits reach $75 million annual pace
The El Al customer club has become a highly profitable asset for the airline, with margins comparable to the high-tech sector. In the first half of the year, the club's profit jumped 22% to $38 million. The transition of the Fly Card credit card operation to Isracard is expected to drive further business growth.

The Great Escape: The tax that threatens to empty California of its residents
An unprecedented wave of departure has been recorded among California's wealthy, who are abandoning the state following extreme tax policies and preparing for a vote on a new wealth tax. Many of them are turning to New Zealand, where they are purchasing "golden visas" that allow them to live, work, and study in the country in exchange for an investment of millions of dollars, reports the Financial...

The Tax Authority reminds immigrants of tax benefits
Did you immigrate to Israel in recent years? The Tax Authority reminds you of the benefits that can reduce your tax liability in your first years in the country, alongside tax exemptions on certain income from abroad. And what has changed for those who immigrated in 2026?

A reminder from the Bank of Israel: funding needs a source
Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to increase the defense budget for the next 13 years without identifying funding sources. Experts warn that this strategy increases debt and risks, undermining Israel's fiscal credibility.

Unprecedented wealth: The 5 leading powers by number of billionaires
A massive wave of global wealth growth highlights the economic powers dominating the market. The USA remains at the top, while other nations showcase distinct models of capital accumulation.

Abir Kara attacks sharply: "Instead of fighting crooks, they are fighting all citizens"
The entrepreneur and social activist launches a frontal attack against the Tax Authority's new VAT reform, claiming that the new digital mechanism will not stop criminals but will specifically harm law-abiding businesses.

Heading into the week on Wall Street: The figure that will determine the fate of the interest rate
Tomorrow, Monday will report under heavy pressure as the stock has plummeted about 37% this year, the company fired 20% of its staff and approved a generous compensation package for the CEOs. This week, the US Consumer Price Index will also be released, which may decide if the Fed will raise interest rates.

Capital Markets Authority tightens oversight: New reporting obligation for remaining P2P companies
The Capital Markets Authority has introduced new requirements for P2P companies, mandating automated reporting. The regulation aims to protect lenders and increase transparency in the sector.

Bank of Israel extends the 'Follow Me' mechanism for switching between banks until 2029
The Banking Supervision Department at the Bank of Israel has proposed extending the automatic payment routing service for customers switching banks by three years. The measure aims to ensure financial continuity.

Mega Or: Operating income from signed data center agreements reaches 740 million shekels
Mega Or's signed contracts for its data center assets are generating an annual net operating income (NOI) of 740 million shekels, marking an 89% increase over the company's total 2025 asset NOI.

First post-IPO reports for importer of Nature Valley and Häagen-Dazs: net profit jumps 31.6%
Rustic Bakery has released its first financial reports since its IPO. The company reported a 31.6% increase in net profit to 23.5 million shekels, with total sales rising 3% to 194.5 million shekels.

Banks, Elbit, Isracard and more: The big reports this week on the stock exchange
Hapoalim, Leumi, Discount and Beinleumi are reporting this week, alongside Elbit, Strauss, Cellcom and Isracard. What is the market looking for, and why is it important to you even if you haven't bought a single share directly?

What to expect in trading tomorrow, and will the S&P 500 make history this month?
Uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz continues to loom over the markets. Wall Street rose to a new high after the employment report dramatically lowered expectations for an interest rate hike. All eyes will be on the consumer price indices in the US and Israel. The reporting season in Tel Aviv is heating up with reports from four of the five largest banks. And also: the strategist who...

Electricity Authority: Phoenix is not a competitive problem at the Dorad power plant
The Electricity Authority signals that institutional entities will receive more lenient treatment regarding concentration issues in the electricity sector, even when they hold a series of production and storage assets. Electricity Authority: "There is no impediment to approving the allocation of rights to the Phoenix group based on considerations of economy-wide concentration."
The old rule is broken: not every government bond is a conservative investment
Inflation, large deficits, and growing financing needs are pushing governments to raise debt at higher interest rates. In this situation, even government bonds can fall sharply - and sometimes bonds of strong companies offer a better alternative.

Towards a historic merger in the banking sector? Numbers from the Mercantile reports
Mercantile Bank, a subsidiary of Discount Bank, published its second-quarter reports with a profit of 205 million shekels and a return on equity that eroded to 12.8%. The board of directors approved a dividend of 50% of the profit — what does this mean for Discount, which is currently examining the possibility of merging Mercantile into it?

Bank of Israel Governor on Globes exposé: We were not partners in the decision to hike the defense budget
On Friday, Globes revealed that Benjamin Netanyahu is demanding to open the state budget and increase the defense budget by 400 billion shekels over 13 years. In his first response, Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron warns of a rise in the debt-to-GDP ratio and says: 'I was not involved'

Ranking of the strongest companies on the stock exchange: The bank that managed to enter the top ten
A mostly green week on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, with two major developments: the fourth-largest bank on the exchange entered the list of the ten largest companies, replacing a chip manufacturer that reported its results. Meanwhile, the largest company on the exchange jumped nearly 9% and is approaching a market value of one trillion shekels.

New report: slight decrease in insolvency proceedings for individuals in 2025
The annual report on insolvency proceedings points to a slight decrease in active insolvency proceedings for individuals and corporations, and a slight increase in individual and creditor requests for the opening of proceedings. The report also highlights data on the age of debtors.

Intel plant expansion frozen — 850 million shekels to be transferred to the defense budget
The Israeli government has approved the transfer of approximately one billion shekels to the defense budget. The funding includes 850 million shekels originally allocated as a grant to Intel for its Kiryat Gat plant expansion.

Major boat retailer files for bankruptcy amid legal claims and falling demand
A sharp decline in boat sales and mounting debt have led the well-known Florida-based FB Marine Group to file for bankruptcy. The retailer, whose vessels have featured in international ad campaigns, reports debts of $2.6 million.

A blow to Yitzhak Tshuva: Why has Isracard fallen 33% since the beginning of the year?
The shares of Israel's largest credit card company have lost about a third of their value since the beginning of 2026 and are trading below the price at which Yitzhak Tshuva's Delek Group acquired control. This week, the company is publishing its second-quarter reports. What is putting pressure on the stock, how are the Bank of Israel's interest rate cuts affecting it, and how much are Tshuva and...

Photographed, printed and sent to China: The "spy" of the chip giant sent to prison
A court in South Korea upheld an 18-month prison sentence for a former SK Hynix employee convicted of leaking trade secrets in the chip sector to a Chinese company.

Giant company goes bankrupt: restaurant empire falls apart, debt of 131,000,000 NIS
American restaurateur Nick Pihakis has filed for personal bankruptcy, involving assets worth $10.6 million against massive debts. Dozens of restaurants owned by his group have already closed, and the future of the brands remains unclear.

Towards the trading week: Bank reports are coming - here is what to expect
The US labor market saw a surprise job loss in July, easing concerns over interest rate hikes and driving a 5% weekly gain for the Nasdaq. In Tel Aviv, the focus shifts to earnings reports from major banks, alongside companies like Camtek, Elbit, and Strauss.

S&P 500 climbed to 47.4%: about 86% of companies beat profit forecasts
Alongside profit data and massive investments by SpaceX, a new report reveals the weakening of employment data in the US alongside interventions in foreign exchange trading that directly affected the American currency. The weighted growth rate of S&P 500 company profits climbed to 47.4% - the strongest trajectory since 2021.

Major deal: Investor continues to increase stake in Ofer Nimrodi's company
American businessman Morris Wilner has purchased over 200,000 shares of Hachsharat HaYishuv for approximately 8.27 million shekels. In total, he has invested over 138 million shekels in the company within a short period, bringing his stake to 8.71%.

Leon Recanati prepares for a control battle over battered Evogene
The battle for the biomed company Evogene is intensifying as Leon Recanati increases his stake to 6.5% with a $400,000 investment. Investors Kfir Zilberman and Ron Yair Peled, holding 16.7%, are pushing for a board overhaul.

Enlight in advanced talks to acquire an energy developer for hundreds of millions of euros
Energy company Enlight is in advanced negotiations to acquire a European energy developer, primarily focused on the German market, in a deal valued at hundreds of millions of euros.

Adi Zim continues to block the compensation increase for the Yakobi brothers
The Yakobi brothers, controlling shareholders of the Yakobi YSB group, are insisting on an upgrade to their compensation terms, but Adi Zim, a 16.5% shareholder, continues to block the move. Consequently, the executives are currently not receiving a salary.

Medicines, chips and spare parts: The hole in Israel's emergency plan
The closure of Israeli airspace during combat operations exposed the economy's vulnerability in air cargo capacity. Cargo volumes plummeted, and the lack of a government emergency plan leaves the country dependent on private sector initiatives.

Debts, cancellations and empty hotels: The tough summer for business owners in the north
Residents and business owners in northern Israel are grappling with the aftermath of the ongoing conflict. A decline in domestic tourism, labor shortages, and delays in state compensation are pushing businesses to the brink of survival.

State to oppose sale of Zim; hearing for FIMI and Germany's Hapag-Lloyd in September
Discussions regarding the $4.2 billion sale of Zim to Germany's Hapag-Lloyd and the FIMI fund are gaining momentum, with current estimates suggesting the deal will not be approved.

The Ballot and the Stocks: Are Elections Good for an Investment Portfolio?
History shows that after elections, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange tends to rise, but political instability could change the picture. How important is the identity of the coalition, or is the capital market thirsting primarily for certainty? Experts map out the scenarios ahead of the trip to the polls and identify sectors that may profit. And also: why political opinions are a "recipe for losing...

How much did the World Series of Poker finalists actually take home after taxes?
The nine players at the World Series of Poker final table collectively won $30.25 million. However, more than $12.2 million of that is expected to be paid out to tax authorities.

Drama in the Energy Market: USA Freezes Assets of Billionaire Close to Trump
A well-known businessman close to the White House is now required to liquidate his businesses in a leading oil producer, following a dramatic decision by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control.

VAT Payment Revolution: Tax to be Transferred at Point of Sale
The Tax Authority is promoting a smart system where businesses will transfer VAT to the state at the moment of payment, aiming to reduce bureaucracy and combat fictitious invoices. The move is expected to inject billions into public coffers. Meanwhile, the Treasury warns that VAT may rise to 19% in 2027.

The Buffett era is over: Berkshire Hathaway is finally opening the vault
Berkshire Hathaway's massive cash pile is starting to shrink, and Wall Street sees this as the first sign of change in the post-Warren Buffett era. The company ended the second quarter with $364.7 billion in cash and short-term government bonds, a 4% decrease compared to the previous quarter — the first decline in its cash reserves quarter-over-quarter in four years. The reason is not weakness in...

In this game of musical chairs, no one will want to be caught last with $325 trillion in rapidly eroding debt
Giant investors like Ray Dalio, Jeffrey Gundlach, and Prof. Kenneth Rogoff believe that America has entered a critical phase at the end of which the government will struggle to finance its debt, the dollar's purchasing power will be cut, and its status as the dominant global power will be lost. There is a belief that the process could happen in just a few years. Why does the US have one of the...

Ranking of Israel's wealthiest: Eyal Ofer beats Miriam Adelson
Forbes live data reveals significant changes in the ranking of Israeli billionaires: Eyal Ofer takes the top spot after a surge in his net worth, while Miriam Adelson has lost ground and dropped to second place.