Big Tech 50 reports major write-downs in startup valuations, including Orcam and Voyager Labs, with a 55% drop in holdings overall.

Israel's National Licensing Authority has approved the first package of works on the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Metro for the construction of the M2 line depot in Petah Tikva. Concerns have been raised about the government's NTA Metropolitan Mass Transit System meeting the schedule for publishing tenders for the construction of the line's excavations.

The Mossad and the Ramat Hasharon Municipality are requesting the construction of a railway station near the Mossad headquarters in Glilot, just north of Tel Aviv.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been summoned to testify in the Qatar-gate affair, as two of his aides are arrested over alleged payments received from Qatar.

Gasoline prices in Israel will increase on Monday night, with the maximum price of 95 octane gasoline rising to NIS 7.31 per liter.

Profits in almost every sector on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange grew in 2024, largely due to increased government spending. However, concerns about the future include a decline in investment and exports, as well as the permanent nature of current government spending.

The monthly minimum wage in Israel will increase by 6% next week, aiming to reduce inequality and increase motivation to work. However, there are concerns about the impact on prices and local industry.

The Knesset has passed a law that gives politicians more control over judicial appointments, sparking opposition and a petition to the Supreme Court.

Stef Wertheimer, founder of Iscar and prominent industrialist and philanthropist in Israel, has died at the age of 98. He was known for his contributions to the Israeli industry and society, including the establishment of industrial parks and promoting Jewish-Arab coexistence.

Israeli airline Arkia will offer business class on its Tel Aviv - New York flights, starting at $3,500 round-trip. The business class will include various amenities and the aircraft will be leased from GullivAir.

Transport Minister Miri Regev is close to finalizing an agreement with the Ministry of Finance on financing for her flagship project, the Kiryat Shemona railway, in exchange for her support of a congestion charge in Gush Dan.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange saw gains today, while the All Bond corporate bond index fell slightly. The shekel-dollar and shekel-euro rates also increased.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange is expected to open negatively today after recording its worst day since October 2023. Statistics show a two-thirds chance of high returns after a steep one-day fall. Yields on Israel government bonds are rising sharply.

Israel's cabinet passes no confidence vote in Attorney General who accuses government of seeking to be above the law.

Dr. Ola Gutzeit of Rambam Hospital has developed an organ-on-a-chip model of the female reproductive system to study its complexities and address challenges in fertility.

The shekel is at its weakest for five months against the dollar and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange is falling sharply amid political and security tensions in Israel.

The main indices on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange fell today, with Electreon continuing to slide, apparently because of the announcement by BYD of a breakthrough new battery.

Nine Israeli healthcare startups have showcased their AI-driven innovations as part of the Dangoor HealthTech Academy, a program connecting Israeli startups with the UK healthcare system.

Energean's $1b gas fields sale is in jeopardy due to regulatory issues with the buyer.

The Competition Authority has given approval for Delek Group to acquire Isracard, a credit card company, in a planned takeover.

Israeli visual generative AI platform developer Bria has raised $40 million in a Series B financing round to further develop its platform and expand its attribution engine to include music, video, and text generation.

Institutional investors are blocking OrCam's recovery plan, causing a dispute and reducing the company's available capital.

Egged wins tender to operate Tel Aviv light rail Green and Purple Lines, despite government ministry opposition to one operator for the entire network.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange saw gains, while the Bank of Israel adjusted the shekel-dollar and shekel-euro rates.

A penthouse in Tel Aviv's Park Bavli project was sold for NIS 43 million, with a price per square meter higher than the average in the neighborhood.

El Al pilots and employees received a bonus of nearly NIS 250,000 each due to the company's success in 2024.

Meitar reclaims top spot as Israel's biggest law firm, followed by Herzog Fox Neeman, according to Dun & Bradstreet's rankings. Last year's top firm, Golfarb Gross Seligman, slips to third place.

First International Bank of Israel (FIBI) has reported a net profit of NIS 2.37 billion for 2024, the highest return on equity among all banks.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange experienced declines, while Matrix IT and Magic Software Enterprises saw significant increases after signing a memorandum of understanding.

Tel Aviv's real estate market is facing an oversupply of agents and a shortage of housing deals, leading many agents to potentially leave the profession.

AI21 has launched Maestro, an AI Planning and Orchestration System, to improve the accuracy of AI systems and manage an organization's AI processes. It also introduced Jamba 1.6, its most advanced open model for private enterprise deployment.

Israel Discount Bank reports NIS 4.3b profit for 2024, with credit to the public rising 8% and a decrease in credit loss expense.

Matrix IT is set to acquire Magic Software Enterprises in a major Israeli IT merger, making Magic a wholly owned subsidiary of Matrix.

Over half of the office space in the BIG Fashion Glilot office tower has been leased, with prices lower than peak prices in Tel Aviv but higher than rents in areas outside the city.

ZIM's stock price rises on rumors of a management-led buyout by CEO Eli Glickman, but investors may oppose the deal and the transaction could face challenges in Israel.

Azerbaijan's SOCAR is partnering with BP and NewMed Energy to explore gas in Israel's economic waters, marking its increased involvement in Israel's energy industry and its first drilling operations outside of Azerbaijan.

Orbit Technologies has won a $2.2 million contract to provide a satellite communications system for a naval military platform. The company's products are used by naval fleets and major companies worldwide.

Israel's Minister of Justice has started proceedings to oust the Attorney General, accusing her of acting in a discriminatory and political manner.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange rose today, but the All Bond corporate bond index fell. Delek Group and NewMed Energy experienced the biggest declines on the Tel Aviv 35 Index.

Jared Kushner is building a business empire in the Middle East, with investments in Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Albania. His private equity fund, Affinity Partners, has close ties to Saudi Arabia and is betting on normalization with the country. Kushner's connections and influence have played a significant role in his success.

An investor has purchased a six-room house in Eilat for NIS 5.8 million. The house has a swimming pool and overlooks the sea, and will be ready for occupancy in several months.

European countries increasing defense spending and rearming, leading to surge in defense stocks. Israeli defense companies expected to benefit from increased demand and collaborate with European countries.

Boston Scientific is set to acquire Israeli medical device company SoniVie for up to $540m. SoniVie has developed an intravascular ultrasound device for treating high blood pressure.

Mizrahi Tefahot Bank achieved record net profit in 2024 and plans to pay a significant dividend on its fourth-quarter profit.

Israel's biggest shopping mall, BIG Fashion Glilot, opens on Thursday. The mall features over 160 flagship stores of international and Israeli brands, as well as a variety of restaurants and dining options.

The proportion of 'ghost' jobs in Israel has increased to 9%-11%, attributed to organizational inefficiency and lack of human resources. This phenomenon is not unique to Israel, as tech giants in the US and Swedish payments giant Klarna have also been found to continue advertising jobs despite hiring freezes.

Light rail fares in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have increased by 3.3% to finance a moderation in public transport fare hikes. Bus fares will also increase by 33.3% and discounts will be provided to designated populations.

A dispute over the number of entrances and exits at stations could delay the construction of Israel's Metro project, the country's biggest-ever national project.

Tech salaries in Israel are declining and job supply is decreasing in the tech industry, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics.

Multiple second-hand apartments were recently sold in different cities in Israel, with prices ranging from NIS 1.25 million to NIS 5 million.

President Trump's relocation plan for Gazans is straining relations between Israel and Egypt, with increasing talk of Egypt preparing for war. Experts believe the chances of a military clash are low, but tensions remain.

Isracard shareholders have approved the acquisition of the company by Delek Group, pending regulatory approval.

Tel Aviv-Yafo Local Planning and Building Committee approves plan for Hahashmal neighborhood, including a 30-floor tower, to rejuvenate the area previously occupied by the Israel Electric Corp.

Direct shipping of vehicles to Israeli ports from East Asia via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea is set to resume, pending stability in the region, providing a competitive advantage to importers. However, insurance rates and the resumption of shipping to Eilat port remain uncertain.

Four tenders in Sde Dov, north Tel Aviv, have been successfully marketed with bids of NIS 6.3 billion for almost 4,000 housing units, reflecting prices over 40% lower than in 2022.

The CEOs of Victory Supermarket Chain and Yochananof and Sons have been indicted by the Israel Competition Authority for price fixing in the food industry and violations of the Food Law.

Ticket prices for direct flights between Tel Aviv and New York remain high despite the return of US airlines and the entry of Arkia into the market.

The Ministry of Finance in Israel is publishing a tender for operating the congestion charge in the Tel Aviv metropolitan region. Minister of Transport Miri Regev has dropped her opposition to the project, reportedly in exchange for financing railways to Kiryat Shmona and Eilat.

AI startup SSI, founded by OpenAI founder Ilya Sutskever, is in talks to raise over $1 billion at a valuation of over $30 billion, making it one of the most valuable tech companies. SSI's current financing round continues the trend of large investments in AI.

Intel Israel's fate is uncertain as the company engages in sale talks with TSMC and Broadcom.

Teva CEO Richard Francis responds to the share price fall, expressing optimism about the company's growth potential and highlighting its investment in the business and focus on branded drugs, biosimilars, and generics.

Israel's economy grew by 1% in 2024, exceeding expectations, but with negative GDP per capita growth. Key industries and business sectors suffered significant damage.

The Israel Tax Authority is set to publish a new voluntary disclosure procedure that will include a fast track for reporting cryptocurrency profits and limit the discretion of assessment officials to disclose profits from digital assets.

Meitav predicts that more Israelis will choose renting over buying, leading to potential consequences such as falling apartment prices and increased inflation.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy expresses relief and gratitude for the release of employee Sasha Troufanov, who was held hostage since October 7, 2023.

Israel's biggest shopping center, BIG Fashion Glilot, is set to open, offering 44,000 square meters of commercial space. The complex is expected to pose a real competition to surrounding malls, potentially putting some out of business.

CyberArk acquires Zilla Security for $165 million and reports strong Q4 results, becoming Israel's second most valuable company.

The TASE tumbled after high US inflation data and ongoing uncertainty about the Gaza truce.

In 2024, 50% of housing deals in Israel involved special offers by contractors for apartments not yet built, with small down-payments and the remainder paid on occupancy after construction is completed. The southern region had near record annual sales, with the highest number of new apartment sales in at least 25 years. The real estate market is worsening, with a decline in the number of deals and an increase in the use of financial offers by developers.