Foreign residents, including Jewish communities abroad, are gradually returning to Israel's housing market, with Jerusalem remaining the most popular location for purchases.

Housing sales in July 2024 increased by 29% compared to the previous year, driven by special discount offers. The Beersheva region saw a significant increase in contractor sales, while purchases by investors in northern cities declined sharply.

Melisron has purchased the stake in Aviv Development for NIS 625 million, valuing the company at NIS 1.25 billion. Aviv Group holds rights for marketing 3,600 housing units in central Israel and is currently working on two major projects.

Coca-Cola Israel has been ordered to pay hundreds of millions of shekels to the Israel Tax Authority in a major tax dispute. The ruling relates to royalty payments made by Coca-Cola Israel to the global Coca-Cola company for the use of its intellectual property rights. The company plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

The opening of Nir Zuk's new Israeli bank, Esh Bank, may be delayed due to the ongoing war, as the company believes it is not the best time to launch a new consumer brand.

Israeli startup Quantum Source raises $50 million in a series A financing round to develop technologies for practical photonic quantum computers.

Airstrikes in Syria hit weapons development facilities, including CERS, responsible for producing advanced weaponry used by Hezbollah. At least 14 people were killed and 43 injured in the attack attributed to Israel.

Israeli venture capital funds saw a major slowdown in the first half of 2024, with a sharp decline in funds raised and investor activities, according to a report. However, there is still significant free capital available for investments in Israeli tech companies.

Dozens of importers and customs agents were arrested this morning at the end of a four-and-a-half year covert investigation.

Mobileye is closing its lidar R&D unit, affecting 100 jobs, as it believes the technology is less essential for its 'eyes off' systems.

Israel's forex reserves hit a record high of $217.377 billion in August 2024, driven by a revaluation that increased the reserves by about $4.243 billion.

Intel is considering selling part of its stake in Mobileye to ease liquidity problems, causing the share price to hit a record low.

Former Israeli ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan is expected to become the chairperson of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in November, following interviews conducted by Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant.

The shekel is gaining strength in the forex market after a sharp depreciation. Poria Financial Planning chairman Or Poria predicts long-term strengthening and advises selling the dollar and buying the shekel.

War at home and abroad has boosted the share prices of defense companies traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

Meta Platforms Inc. has laid off 90 development engineers in Israel as it scales back its metaverse program. The layoffs were delayed due to the October 7 massacre and took place in January.

Israel's office real estate market is facing uncertainty as companies wait to expand office space due to the war and global crises. However, there is optimism for a future boom in the industry.

The general strike in Israel in support of the families of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip may continue for another day, unless the courts intervene.

Histadrut calls for a general strike due to lack of progress in hostage deal. Flights at Ben Gurion airport will halt and the private sector will join the strike.

Intel Israel employees will lose company cars as part of cost-cutting measures, saving NIS 12 million. The company is also implementing a streamlining plan and closing down its Intel Ignite acceleration program.

Multiple apartments in different cities across Israel have been sold for various prices, ranging from NIS 500,000 to NIS 8.67 million.

Tenders have been issued for the construction of three major office projects in Jerusalem, including a tech campus, a central judiciary and courts complex, and a headquarters for the National Insurance Institute.

Israeli defense technology company Rafael reports record orders and a rise in sales to the Americas.

Carrefour Israel, operated by Electra Consumer Products, reported an operating profit of NIS 24 million in Q2, compared to a loss of NIS 50 million last year. Electra Consumer Products' food retailing segment saw revenue of NIS 812 million in Q2, up 7.4% YoY.

The chaos in Israel's aviation market has led to a rise in demand for private flights, with figures showing a 20% increase in demand this month compared to August 2023.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange fell today, while the All Bond corporate bond index rose. Foreign exchange rates also decreased.

Tshuva's Elad Group buys Manhattan office building for $72m and plans to convert it into luxury residential condos.

Surveys by four US banks suggest government policy, or lack thereof, is denting confidence in the Israeli economy.

Denmark and the UK are the only major European countries still exporting weapons to Israel, but international human rights organizations are trying to change this through legal petitions.

Maytronics reports disappointing results and cuts guidance, while CFO announces departure. Sales impacted by high interest rates, extreme weather, and competition from Chinese robots.

Reality Group has bought land in north Herzliya for NIS 205.5 million. The new neighborhood will have 10,000 new homes and faces obstacles before development can begin.

Shufersal, Israel's largest retail chain, has seen a 153% rise in net profit for the second quarter under the control of Yossi and Shlomi Amir. The company has also experienced improved performance in same store sales and a decline in online sales as a proportion of total sales.

Unemployment in Israel drops to a new low of 2.8% in July, the lowest rate in years, due to army reserve duty and workforce shortages.

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. raised its annual guidance and beat forecasts for the second quarter, leading to a sharp increase in its share price. The rise in prices, Houthi attacks, and increased demand contributed to the company's success.

Electra has secured a NIS 3.1 billion contract to build a new jail in Queens, New York, with two of its subsidiaries responsible for the electro-mechanical systems.

Israeli hotels are experiencing high occupancy rates and increased prices due to domestic tourism and the hosting of evacuees from the conflict.

Israeli startups are collaborating with the Ministry of Defense to provide advanced technologies to the IDF, including fire control systems, surveillance drones, cybersecurity solutions, and autonomous robotic products.

Singapore-based Prytek is buying control of Israeli financial information company TipRanks at a valuation of $200 million, bringing its total stake to 80%.

Mizrahi Tefahot Bank reports highest Q2 return on equity among Israeli banks and posts net profit of NIS 1.45 billion.

El Al Israel Airlines has reported a net profit of $147.4 million for Q2, an 84% increase from Q1. The airline's revenue in Q2 was $839 million, a 33% increase from the same period in 2023. El Al has also announced the purchase of up to 31 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

monday.com, an Israeli work operating system company, has reported strong Q2 results, pushing its share price to a 30-month high and giving it a market cap of $13.072 billion. The company's revenue for the quarter was $236 million, up 34.4% from the same period last year. CEO Roy Mann believes the company has the potential to become the work operating system for almost every organization in the world.

Israel Discount Bank is in talks to sell a 14% stake in its subsidiary, Israel Discount Bank of New York, to US investment firm Gallatin Point Capital for $150m.

Fitch downgrades Israel's credit rating to 'A' with negative outlook due to war in Gaza and geopolitical risks.

Israeli defense firms Elbit, IAI, and Rafael retain high rankings in the world's top 100 according to 'Defense News'.

Avisror Moshe & Sons sells a penthouse in the Ashira project in Sde Dov for NIS 19.5 million, reflecting a high price of NIS 103,000 per square meter.

The Israeli government has approved a proposal that grants Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the power to select the next Civil Service Commissioner, overriding the objections of the Attorney General.

The shekel weakens against the dollar and euro amid security tensions and concerns over Israel's credit rating.

Israel's Ministry of Finance has prepared a backup budget plan for 2025 that includes tax hikes and lower child allowances for large families. The plan aims to cut government spending and is seen as a compromise with the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister.

Recent real estate deals in Israel include the sale of apartments in various cities.

Cisco plans to lay off over 4,000 employees as it shifts focus to AI and cybersecurity, according to reports. The layoffs will primarily impact communications products and associated staff, while investment in AI and cybersecurity will increase.

Israel is among the top countries for investment in the UK per capita, according to a report by the UK Department for Business and Trade. The report highlights Israel's strong partnership with the UK and the creation of new jobs through investment projects.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange saw gains today, with the main indices rising and Bank Leumi leading trading.

Israel's fiscal deficit reaches 8.1% of GDP, exceeding government target, due to increased spending and limited revenue growth.

Israel experienced a surge in cyberattacks during Q2 2024, with the average weekly number of attacks reaching 2,278. Education, communications, and consultancy sectors are the most affected, with the transportation sector experiencing the largest increase compared to last year. Russia and Iran are the two countries exporting the most attacks.

The Tel Aviv light rail construction is facing delays and is not expected to be operational before 2030. The delays have been caused by various factors, including coordination issues and the discovery of unexpected infrastructures. The postponement has led to frustration among residents and commuters who need a mass transit system. The delays have also resulted in budget cuts and decreased productivity.

El Al Israel Airlines has seen its share price rise amid geopolitical tensions and canceled flights by other carriers, benefiting from its almost monopoly status in flights to and from Ben Gurion airport.

Israel's forex reserves have risen to $213.634 billion, slightly below the record-ever forex reserves of $213.731 billion in March 2024.

Wix.com reports strong Q2 performance, raises guidance for 2024

easyJet has extended the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv until March 2025, joining other airlines in halting operations to Israel. The airline will provide alternatives and refunds to affected customers.

The shekel is at its weakest against the US dollar since November 2023 due to increased tensions in the country and the outflow of investments. The Bank of Israel may intervene in trading to address the depreciation of the shekel.

Market experts have differing views on how investors should respond to steep falls in stock markets and a weakening shekel. Some advise staying patient and not making drastic changes to portfolios, while others advise caution. Opportunities are seen in major US indices, the real estate sector, infrastructure, and the defense sector. Experts stress the importance of diversifying currencies in investment portfolios.

Over 31,000 households in Israel have switched from the Israel Electricity Corp. to private electricity suppliers since the electricity reform came into effect in July.

Israel's cabinet has approved a bill allowing reduced tax rates for early withdrawals from advanced-study funds, aiming to provide financial relief during economic hardship.

Israel's top percent pays less tax in proportion to income, with the richest earning most of their money from capital income.

The shekel has continued to weaken against major currencies, despite the weakness of the dollar itself. Risk management specialist Shmuel Berger warns that an attack by Iran and its proxies could cause further depreciation of the shekel.

Norges Bank has sold over half of its stake in Mobileye, an Israeli ADAS company, reducing its stake from 10.7% to 5.2%.

Intel is set to lay off 15% of its workforce worldwide, including in Israel, and will ask employees to sign up for early retirement programs.

Users in central Israel are experiencing disruptions to GPS navigation systems, with apps displaying incorrect locations. The disruptions are believed to be carried out by the defense forces to prevent attacks from Iran and Lebanon.

International airlines have cancelled or suspended flights to and from Israel due to regional tensions, but Tel Aviv's airport remains open. Israeli airlines are operating as normal, and some international airlines are still flying to Israel.

The US antitrust probe into Nvidia's acquisition of Run:ai puts the $700 million deal at risk and raises concerns about anti-competitive practices in the AI processing market.

UJA-Federation of New York and Microsoft Israel provide financial support to hospitals and the local council in Majdal Shams after a rocket attack killed twelve children.

Sderot in southern Israel will have its own innovation center, housing a technology incubator, as part of a broader plan for the region's development.

Outbrain is set to acquire Teads in a $1 billion deal, forming an end-to-end monetization platform for the internet.

Leviathan partners are investing $429 million to expand production capacity of the Israeli offshore natural gas reservoir from 12 BCM to 21 BCM.

US airlines Delta and United have canceled flights to and from Israel until August 7 following recent attacks in Beirut and Tehran. Israeli airlines El Al, Arkia, and Israir are operating as usual.

Former IDF intelligence head discusses the impact of recent assassinations attributed to Israel and the likely response from Hamas and Hezbollah.

Teva reports strong Q2 results, raises 2024 forecast

Defense IT company TSG raises NIS 62m in IPO on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. The company reports 20% revenue growth in 2023 and completes acquisitions in the commercial market.

The shekel weakens following the killings of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders, raising concerns of escalating conflict. The shekel exchange rates have increased, while the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange remains steady. Oil prices have spiked, leading to surges in energy stocks.

Intel, the largest employer in Israel's technology sector, is reportedly planning mass layoffs to fund technological development and regain market share.

The IDF retaliates with a targeted attack in Beirut after Hezbollah's massacre of Druze children on the Golan Heights.

Four suspects, including a Ministry of National Security employee, have been arrested for running a criminal network that issued gun licenses in exchange for bribes.

The Knesset Finance Committee has approved a tax cut for new immigrants purchasing real estate in Israel. New immigrants will pay a reduced purchase tax of 0.5% on one home worth up to NIS 6 million.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange rebounded today, with various indices experiencing gains while the All Bond corporate bond index saw a slight decrease. Turnover in equities and bonds was significant, and the shekel-dollar and shekel-euro rates increased.

Silynxcom's share price rises on Wall Street after receiving orders worth $815,000 from the Israel Defense Forces for its tactical communication headset devices.

An Iranian rocket fired by Hezbollah killed twelve children and youths in Majdal Shams. Israel responded by attacking targets in Lebanon. The rocket was able to hit its target due to the overwhelmed air defense system and the limitations of Iron Dome against low altitude and short-range rockets.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange fell today, with technology stocks prominent in both directions. Bank Leumi led trading and Tower Semiconductor, Maytronics, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange itself, and El Al were notable advancers.

The shekel weakens against the US dollar and euro due to events such as a shooting attack and the decline in the US stock markets, particularly the Nasdaq index.

Tel Aviv residential building plans are in disarray as the TAMA 38 project, which strengthens and enlarges existing buildings to protect against earthquakes, is set to expire next month.

A penthouse in the Tel Aviv Port TLV Residence project has been sold for NIS 36 million, reflecting the high prices in the sought-after location.

The Philippine army has completed its first test-fire training using the Sabrah light tank made by Elbit Systems. The tank is part of the country's defense procurement efforts amid concerns about China. The army has also acquired the Spider air defense system made by Rafael.

The development of land in Jerusalem owned by the Greek patriarchate has been delayed due to indecisiveness from the Jewish National Fund (JNF). American businessman Gary Barnett purchased the land in 2023 with the aim of ending the stalemate and developing the area, but there has been no progress in 18 months.

Nadav Zafrir, co-founder of Team8, has been appointed CEO of Check Point, replacing co-founder Gil Shwed.

Israel's traffic congestion adds 6% to the cost of living, according to a study by the Aharon Institute for Economic Policy. Researchers recommend integrated housing and transport planning to address the issue.

Applied Systems is acquiring Israeli AI Insurtech company Planck to further develop AI products for cloud-based insurance software.

Ryanair will expand its routes in Israel, offering flights to 16 more destinations in October, making it the foreign airline with the most routes in the country.