Economy

Zoglovek Completes 120 Million NIS Sausage Plant in Shlomi Despite Wartime Delays
Zoglovek completed a new 120 million NIS sausage plant in Shlomi near the northern border, overcoming wartime delays to boost high-tech production and expand its market leadership.

Bank Leumi CEO Hanan Friedman Slams Facebook Over Financial Scams
Bank Leumi CEO Hanan Friedman lashed out at Facebook over fake accounts and financial scams, announcing that the bank has filed a lawsuit and inviting others to join the legal battle.

Beersheba Neighborhood Defies Housing Slowdown With Rising Prices
Madlan data reveals that Israel's housing market slowdown bypasses several neighborhoods, led by Beersheba's Vav Neighborhood where prices continue to rise and 40% of homes sell at asking price.

JP Morgan Sees Over 200% Upside for SpaceX Shares on AI Expansion
JP Morgan raised SpaceX's price target to $500, citing massive AI growth potential and strong Q3 financial results that drove revenues up by 161% to $14.6 billion.

Bituach Leumi Releases October 2026 Benefit Schedules and Heating Grants
Bituach Leumi released the October 2026 payment schedule, confirming long-term benefits for October 28 and the annual 664 NIS heating grant for eligible seniors.

Global Wine & Spirits Inks 25M NIS Deal with Tel Aviv's NOX Group
Global Wine & Spirits secured a 25 million shekel deal to become the main alcohol supplier for Tel Aviv's NOX Group, ending a 15-year supplier partnership.

Treasury Weighs Sweeping Tax and Pension Overhauls to Tackle Post-War Debt
The Israeli Ministry of Finance and Tax Authority are preparing extensive tax reforms to address high war-driven debt and deficits. Proposals include labor tax cuts, property and luxury taxes, and contentious changes to high-tech options and pensions.

The 14-Year-Old Investor Who Doubled His Portfolio in the Stock Market
Meet Oz Cohen, a 14.5-year-old Israeli investor who turned 2,500 shekels into 22,000 shekels over three years through savvy stock market investments.

Israeli REITs Snap Up Unsold Developer Inventory at Steep Discounts
Israel's housing market stagnation and mounting developer inventory have fueled a surge in bulk REIT acquisitions, with over 700 apartments bought at steep discounts in 2026.

Meta Posts $64.6 Billion in Third-Quarter Revenue, Beating Wall Street Estimates
Meta reported third-quarter revenues of $64.6 billion, beating analyst estimates by a 26% year-over-year surge, alongside strong fourth-quarter guidance and a new $25 billion fine in New Mexico.

Elron Ventures Ousts Chairwoman Lisi Bakar Manoch Amid Bitter Shareholder Feud
Elron Ventures chairwoman Lisi Bakar Manoch was ousted by co-controllers Arik Bentov and Evan Rennert, sparking potential legal action. The bitter shareholder dispute involves a 100 million shekel debt to Phoenix Holdings and boardroom restructuring.

Hachshara Insurance Wins Four Awards at MIL Customer Experience Competition
Hachshara Insurance and Finance won four prestigious awards at the MIL Excellence in Service competition, reflecting its successful strategic transformation.

Bank of Israel Splits Growth Forecast: The Nvidia Factor in the Economy
The Bank of Israel split its growth forecast for the first time, distinguishing between overall output driven by giants like Nvidia and domestic economic activity.

National Insurance Allows Unemployment Benefits During 26th Knesset Elections
The National Insurance Institute announced that unemployed individuals can work during the 26th Knesset elections while keeping benefits, subject to four strict conditions.

Low-Cost Airline Hidden Fees: How to Avoid Baggage and Seat Traps
Low-cost airlines rely heavily on ancillary revenues rather than cheap base tickets. A guide to avoiding hidden traps like baggage fees, seat selection charges, and check-in penalties.

Slice Administrator Seeks Court Order to Unmask Anonymous Ad Campaign Funding
Slice administrator Efi Sandrov petitioned the Tel Aviv District Court to uncover the funding behind an anonymous ad campaign targeting him and Commissioner Amit Gal, allegedly financed by Finbert entities to force a disadvantageous settlement.

Bagel Cafe Launches 8 Million Shekel Expansion to Reach 20 Branches
Israeli cafe chain Bagel Cafe is investing 8 million shekels to open 8 new branches, expanding its total footprint to 20 locations nationwide by mid-2027.

Developer Ordered to Pay 440K NIS in Petah Tikva Penthouse Delay
A Herzliya court ordered a developer to pay over 443,000 NIS in compensation for a 35-month delay in delivering a penthouse in Petah Tikva, rejecting claims that the war caused the setback.

The Hidden Economic Cost of Sleep Deprivation on Leadership and Productivity
Sleep deprivation costs the US economy over $410 billion annually, severely impairing managerial decision-making, productivity, and team engagement while pushing companies to adopt strict offline policies.

Israel Tax Authority Proposes Higher Levies on Trapped Profits and Vacant Land
Israel's Tax Authority director Shay Aharonovich proposed raising trapped profits distribution to 8% and reinstating a 1.5% property tax on vacant land to avoid broader tax hikes.

Haifa Threatens to Shut Down Bazan Refineries Following Severe Benzene Leak
Haifa Municipality summoned Bazan Group management to a hearing following a severe benzene leak that closed Kiryat Ata schools, threatening to revoke business licenses.

Supreme Court Rejects Dead Sea Works Appeal Over Half-Billion Water Fee
The Supreme Court rejected Dead Sea Works' request for an additional hearing, cementing a ruling that requires ICL to pay half a billion shekels for water usage.

Adv. Simon Jaffe Leaves Barnea Jaffe Lande Law Firm After 23 Years
Adv. Simon Jaffe, co-founder of Barnea Jaffe Lande law firm, is leaving after 23 years following a joint decision. The firm counts 150 lawyers and 56 partners.

Tahini Al-Zaeem Recalls Products Nationwide Due to Salmonella Contamination
Tahini Al-Zaeem recalls all sizes of its traditional tahini products after salmonella contamination was detected. Consumers are urged not to consume the affected items.

Margalit Tzanani Sued for NIS 3 Million by Former Manager Over Alleged Labor Violations
Yanai Ratpan, former manager of Israeli singer Margalit Tzanani, has filed a NIS 3 million labor lawsuit alleging abuse, forced exclusivity, and unfair dismissal.

IBI Closes Mutual Fund Developed with Behavioral Economist Dan Ariely
IBI Investment House is closing its mutual fund launched with Prof. Dan Ariely after generating near-zero returns over five years and managing only 2 million shekels.

Cohan Properties Scandal Deepens as US Investors Claim Pledged Asset Rights
US investors claim rights over assets pledged to bondholders in the Cohan Properties scandal, alleging former chief Mike Cohan unauthorized mortgages.

Migdal Overtakes Menora Mivtachim in Historic Provident Fund Market Shift
Migdal Insurance has overtaken Menora Mivtachim in managed provident assets for the first time since 2014, while Clal leads inflows and outflows persist at Altshuler Shaham.

eBay Cuts 9% of Workforce in New Layoff Wave and Closes Israel Center
eBay is cutting 9% of its workforce, laying off approximately 1,100 employees in a new restructuring wave. The company is also closing its development center in Israel.

Modi'in Approves 3,575 Housing Units in New HaMa'ayanot Neighborhood
The Central District Planning Committee approved the HaMa'ayanot plan in Modi'in for 3,575 housing units across 550 dunams, boosting housing supply in demand areas.

Trump Family Profits $2.3B From Crypto Ventures Amid Investor Losses
Reuters investigation reveals US President Donald Trump and his family earned $2.3 billion from crypto ventures while investors suffered matching losses, sparking conflict of interest concerns.

Bank of Israel Holds Interest Rate at 3.25% Amid Economic Pressures
The Bank of Israel has kept its interest rate steady at 3.25%, balancing low inflation of 1.6% against geopolitical risks, currency depreciation, and ongoing market uncertainties.

Workplace Politics: Where Free Speech Ends and Dismissal Risks Begin
As elections approach, tensions rise over political expression in the workplace, balancing free speech rights with the employer's duty to maintain order.

The AI Boom Paradox: How Semiconductor Growth Shapes Asian Economies
A new Bank of America report reveals a paradox in the Asian AI boom: while tech-heavy economies like Taiwan and South Korea reap massive export gains, they remain highly vulnerable if the trend reverses, unlike China.

Crypto Market Rebounds: Bitcoin Holds Above 83,000 Dollars as XRP and Ethereum Lead Gains
Cryptocurrency markets saw a positive trading session led by XRP and Ethereum, while Bitcoin held above 83,000 dollars. Despite daily gains, the weekly outlook remains mixed.

China Central Bank Shifts Liquidity Policy to Boost Bond Market Amid Leverage Risks
The People's Bank of China is shifting toward overnight rates to manage liquidity, lowering financing costs and driving bond demand. While supporting government debt, analysts warn of growing leverage risks.

German Banks Launch Crypto Trading as Global Institutional Adoption Expands
German banks launch crypto trading in standard banking apps, while institutional custody and global stablecoin adoption expand across Europe, USA, and emerging markets.

Bank of Israel Reports 0.3% Growth in September Composite Economic Index
The Bank of Israel reported a 0.3% increase in the September composite economic index, reflecting stable third-quarter growth driven by consumption and exports.

Tel Aviv Approves Major Real Estate Projects in Neve Sha'anan
Tel Aviv's planning committee approved three major mixed-use projects in Neve Sha'anan on October 14, adding 371 residential units, commercial spaces, and six underground parking levels.

Israel Bans Non-Bank Lenders from Rewarding Mortgage Brokers with Luxury Trips
The Capital Market Authority has issued a final ban on non-bank credit companies offering luxury trips and gifts to mortgage brokers for client referrals, effective January 2027.