Economy

The Phoenix has built a massive 7 billion shekel position in Israel's semiconductor sector, adding 3 billion shekels to stakes in Nova and Camtek.

Electra Real Estate is taking 20 analysts to Florida to reassure investors after its stock plummeted 75% in four months to a 1.06 billion shekel valuation amid rising US yields.

Real estate firm Yellowstone, founded by Yakir Gabay, is raising $400 million in a pre-IPO private equity round to finance US acquisitions and Manhattan conversions.

Foreign credit card spending in Israel nearly matched pre-war levels in early 2026, reaching 9.7 billion shekels, despite a 78% drop in actual tourist arrivals.

The Jaffa Magistrates' Court dismissed an urban renewal lawsuit against a homebuyer after the developer failed to deposit a mandated 49,000 NIS financial guarantee to cover legal costs.

UBS Global Wealth Management Chief Economist Paul Donovan examines how social media, frequent purchases, and shifting consumer aspirations fuel the global affordability crisis.

Global markets brace for a data-heavy week featuring U.S. inflation, employment reports, and central bank updates, while Julius Baer analyzes surging fuel prices and potential U.S. export curbs.

Bank of Israel interest rates fell to 3.25%, lowering monthly mortgage payments. However, strict equity and net income requirements continue to challenge homebuyers in the market.

Saudi Arabia has restored oil exports to 6 million barrels per day despite regional chokepoint blockades, as rising shipping rates and US strikes help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

NICE shares have surged 40% since June amid reports of a potential $2 billion sale of its Actimize financial crime unit to Brookfield. Analysts view the divestment as a strategic pivot toward AI, despite a lower-than-expected valuation.

Software developer Hadar Nir launched ParkWise, a free app comparing parking prices across 343 lots in 24 Israeli cities, revealing massive cost gaps for drivers.

Yad2 launches its first overseas real estate channel starting with Cyprus, offering Israeli buyers properties under one million shekels and streamlined cross-border investment guides.

Founders Adi Cohen and Ariela Avitan turned a homemade ulpana skirt project into Sde Bar, a multimillion-shekel modest fashion brand recently acquired by Fox Group's Terminal X.

American biomedical firm Kodiak Sciences saw its stock surge nearly 200% on Nasdaq after reporting positive Phase 3 clinical trial results for its retinal disease treatments.

Wall Street finished lower on Monday as the Dow fell 0.7% and bond yields hit 19-year highs at 5.25%. Meta dropped 4.8% on enterprise AI plans while Nvidia rose 1.7% on buybacks.

Osher Ad is offering plastic chairs for 12.90 NIS, providing a budget-friendly seating solution for families hosting holiday guests and managing seasonal expenses.

Data from Israel's Tax Authority shows a 4.9% drop in the national median price per square meter in 2025, yet 41 out of 59 analyzed cities actually saw price increases, highlighting a shifting transaction mix rather than broad declines.

Israir flight IS723 to Budapest returned to Ben Gurion Airport due to a suspected technical malfunction, landing safely while passengers were transferred to a replacement plane.

Qatar faces a severe economic crisis as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and damage to Ras Laffan facilities cause LNG exports to plunge by 96%, accumulating an $8.6 billion deficit in six months.

Psagot report details a cooling Israeli labor market with declining youth participation, alongside surging U.S. Treasury yields and rising inflation pressures.

Global stock markets remain calm despite surging U.S. Treasury yields hitting 5.2%, but experts warn of potential spillover effects and rising risk levels in bond markets.

A Lod court approved a class-action lawsuit against Air India for violating aviation laws during the April 2024 Iranian drone attack by failing to assist stranded passengers.

Israel's Ministry of Finance officially recommends rejecting the $4.2 billion acquisition of ZIM by Germany's Hapag-Lloyd, citing national security risks, Qatari ownership ties, and fleet vulnerability.

Meta has established a new enterprise AI division, hiring MongoDB CEO C.J. Desai to lead the initiative. The unexpected departure caused MongoDB shares to plummet by over 15%.

As 10-year US Treasury yields surge past 5% and debt hits $40 trillion, six leading CIOs from PIMCO, BlackRock, and Franklin Templeton share portfolio strategies.

DJI has launched its first flagship store in Eilat at the Seven Stars complex, offering tax-free purchases for residents and visitors on drones, cameras, and gear.

A U.S. Senate report reveals that Iran heavily utilized Tether's USDT stablecoin to bypass sanctions and fund proxy groups like Hezbollah through shadow banking.

An Israeli concertgoer who abandoned an Ed Sheeran show over Macklemore's anti-Israel opening act has received a full ticket refund from Ticketmaster.

Casso Real Estate terminated its contract with main contractor Neta Lipschitz for a major Jerusalem pinui-binui project, citing severe labor shortages and a fundamental breach after a halt in construction.

Ofir Sarid, former CEO of Israeli real estate giant Melisron, has passed away at 54 after a severe illness. During his tenure, he successfully steered the company through the COVID-19 pandemic and expanded into residential real estate.

Erisel Electronics secured a 5.9 million NIS order from the US Air Force to supply temperature controllers for T-38 trainer aircraft engines by the end of 2026.

Vitania's planned acquisition of Benny Landa's stake in a Ness Ziona project faces a negative credit rating review by Midroog due to mounting debt and tax liabilities, despite securing a major lease agreement with Elbit Systems.

Israeli fintech firm Bluevine is being acquired by Valley National Bancorp for approximately $340 million, boosting the U.S. bank's digital capabilities and small business footprint.

Even Yehuda housing lottery winners are receiving keys after years of delays, securing apartments worth millions of shekels at a fraction of market cost.

Electra Real Estate shares plummeted, losing 75% of value in four months to 1.06 billion NIS. Institutional investors like Menora face heavy paper losses amid rising US bond yields and modest fund returns.

Valley National Bancorp has agreed to acquire Israeli-founded fintech platform Bluevine for approximately $340 million, boosting its digital small business banking and AI capabilities.

Tel Aviv Stock Exchange indices closed lower on Monday, led by a 0.49% drop in the TA-35 index. Markets reacted to global pressures and Donald Trump rejecting an Iranian proposal.

Electra Real Estate shares dropped 15% amid heavy trading volume as the company faces a potential exit from the Tel Aviv 90 index and ongoing financial pressures.

Nvidia has expanded its share repurchase program by 150 billion dollars, bringing its total remaining buyback authorization to 235 billion dollars through fiscal year 2028.

Cryptocurrency markets tumbled as Bitcoin traded at $83,076 and Ethereum dropped to $2,667. The downturn reflects a classic Risk-Off sentiment driven by US monetary tightening expectations and macro data uncertainty.