Economy

The Netanya Municipality rejected the inclusion of an illegally split building with 19 units into an urban renewal project, as permits existed for only eight apartments, rendering compensation economically unviable.

Data center giant Nebius is evaluating a $100M-$150M acquisition of an Israeli tech firm as it expands its local development center and Modiin supercloud infrastructure.

An independent Israeli platform launched to centralize fragmented real estate data faces obstacles after the Tax Authority blocked automated scraping on its core property database.

Israeli airline stocks surged following an attempted hijacking scare on a Flydubai flight from the UAE to Israel that diverted to Saudi Arabia. El Al shares jumped 7.82%, and Israir soared 6.72% amid expectations of reduced foreign competition.

The Tel Aviv District Court approved Slice's final settlement plan, allowing the distribution of millions to affected savers. However, hurdles remain regarding restricted white funds and loan repayments.

Afcon Holdings is targeting a 1 billion shekel valuation for the upcoming IPO of its renewable energy division, which includes a 770-megawatt pipeline and EV charging operations.

Acro Real Estate reported the partial exercise of a land option in Tel Aviv's Mandarin complex for 39.5 million NIS. Payments will fund existing loan repayments while deadlines are extended.

Israeli defense firm Smart Shooter secured a $150 million sole-source contract from the U.S. military for its SMASH counter-drone systems, boosting its shares by 20%.

Doral's NIS 850 million Hadari Shaan solar project in Emek HaMaayanot has been successfully electrified, promising 722 MW capacity and NIS 150 million in annual revenues.

Pagaya's US real estate AI fund posted a 54.5% negative yield since 2022, facing $135 million in investor losses due to soaring interest rates and a sharp macroeconomic shift.

Yohananof supermarket chain is restructuring its real estate by transferring 14 properties valued at 1.1 billion shekels to a wholly-owned subsidiary, paving the way for potential future public offerings.

A look back at the Israeli subsidized housing lottery of 2018-2019 reveals how winners in Ofakim and central cities doubled their property values, reaping massive profits as resale restrictions lift.

Elon Musk and Tesla secured $30 billion in new credit facilities to fund a massive R&D surge in AI, robotics, and energy, boosting 2026 investments to $25 billion.

Flydubai maintains ten daily flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv, remaining a key aviation link for Israel despite regional conflicts and European flight suspensions.

Alfred Akirov announced a NIS 788 million buyout offer to delist Alrov Real Estate from the stock exchange, offering a 21.6% premium to acquire full control.

Or Libis, Senior VP of Economics and Strategy at the Ministry of Transport, is resigning after three years due to frustration over stalled reforms and the collapsed Wizz Air base project.

OpenAI is reportedly discussing a funding round to raise up to $30 billion, aiming for a $1.4 trillion valuation as annual revenue surpasses $40 billion.

The cost of living in Israel in 2026 hits historic highs as fuel reaches 8.27 shekels per liter, alongside soaring prices for olive oil, coffee, flights, and chocolate.

Dor Alon launches a new promotional meal featuring a large hot dog and a canned drink for 9.90 shekels at Alonit stores, escalating the convenience store price war.

New York Fed President John Williams signaled no rush for a rate hike, sharply lowering market expectations for the October 28 Federal Reserve meeting.

JPMorgan Chase has shifted from caution to a bullish outlook on US tech stocks, driven by strong macroeconomic data, resilient consumer spending, and robust artificial intelligence growth.

The Second Authority ruled that Channel 14's 2025 revenues surpassed 80 million NIS, revoking its minor license. The channel now faces strict regulatory requirements, including Arabic broadcasts and original production investments.

Israeli hair care brand OLIÈRE PARIS has expanded into over 100 Hairhouse stores across Australia, projecting millions in annual sales despite high initial logistics costs.

The US and China have published mutual tariff-reduction lists worth $30 billion each following a Washington summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, featuring unusual items ranging from live whales to Christmas decorations.

Veteran international investor Stella Cohen is launching a new private equity fund in Israel, having raised $120 million from US investors to target large local firms in business services, financial sectors, and defense.

Urban renewal projects in Israel hide a murky world of private organizers. Experts warn about hidden conflicts of interest where fixers trade developer deals for apartment kickbacks.

The Bank of Israel's current account fee reform launches tomorrow, capping debit card fees at 7 NIS and eliminating outdated bank charges. A broader overhaul arriving in July 2027 will introduce flat monthly pricing.

The delivery platform Haat is expanding into the retail market, with Paz Group's yellow stores and supermarkets expected to join the app. This strategic move follows Haat's recent 60 million NIS fundraising round.

Israel launches a new pilot project via the Ha-Masyet digital platform to combat severe social worker shortages by offering flexible, high-paying part-time roles.

The Israeli stock market in 2026 shows strong gains for the Tel Aviv 35 and Tel Aviv 125 indices, while the Tel Aviv 90 lags behind due to market concentration and interest rate pressures.

Media personality Lior Schleien is advancing plans to build a luxury private residence in northern Tel Aviv after purchasing a 510-square-meter plot for 13.7 million shekels.

A new initiative by the Rad Bynet Group and the ISEF Foundation invests 330,000 shekels to support discharged female combat soldiers pursuing degrees in science, medicine, and high-tech professions.

Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison quietly purchased eight homes in a gated Florida community for nearly 10 million dollars to house his family staff and private tutors.

McDonald's is deploying artificial intelligence tools to determine menu pricing across U.S. locations, sparking debate over price gaps between neighboring branches and growing regulatory scrutiny.

A Village Inn franchise in Florida filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with over $500,000 in debt, citing hurricane impacts, declining sales, and rising costs.

Osher Ad chain launches a new non-food promotion, offering a 20V cordless power tool kit in a storage case for 449.90 NIS to attract bargain-hunting shoppers.

Nathan Rosenberg, father of El Al controlling shareholder Kenny Rosenberg, has passed away in New York. The family is prominent in US Jewish and business circles.

Walt Disney Company is laying off about 300 employees, mainly in human resources and technology, marking the third workforce reduction wave since Josh D’Amaro became CEO in March.

UBS investment bank analyzes US government bond yields, arguing that a potential yield curve inversion does not necessarily signal a looming recession for the US economy.

Fair Isaac Corporation stock plunged 22% after US housing regulators eased the use of rival VantageScore, threatening its dominance in mortgage credit ratings.