ECONOMY

Stressing that the war is continuing longer than expected, the ratings agency has also cut Israel's credit outlook from 'stable' to 'negative.'

The International Monetary Fund sees Israel GDP growth of just 1.6% in 2024.

The March CPI reading was higher than forecast, but that is not necessarily the main reason for estimating that an interest rate cut by the Bank of Israel is not imminent.

Israel's Consumer Price Index rose 0.6% in March, higher than expected, while apartment prices rose for the third consecutive month.

Turkey is the fourth largest source of vehicles imported into Israel. Trade relations with China are looking less rosy as well.

The Bank of Israel Governor tells "Globes" why the rate cut was postponed, and expresses concern about long-term defense spending and the need to integrate the haredi community into the army and job market.

At this stage, the plan is budgeted at NIS 3 billion. Confrontation Line Forum Moshe Davidovich: The plan still falls short.

A high salaries expense, lack of clarity about the real estate, and exposure to taxation of the Postal Bank, have deterred potential buyers.

Mizrahi Tefahot Bank chief strategist Yonie Fanning: Basic economic conditions are conducive to lower rates.

Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan declared yesterday that steps would be taken against Israel after its refusal to allow Turkish aid to be parachuted into the Gaza Strip.

Israel’s foreign exchange reserves at the end of March 2024 stood at $213.768 billion, an increase of $6.947 billion from their level at the end of the February, the Bank of Israel reports.

The Bank of Israel said that the extent of geopolitical uncertainty has increased, reflecting a relatively high risk premium for the economy.

Israel's fiscal deficit continued to widen in March, reaching 6.2% of GDP over the past 12 months, the Ministry of Finance accountant general reports.

There are 36 Israelis listed in the 2024 Forbes billionaires list.

The five-year plan to revive the communities devastated on October 7 covers housing, education, transport, healthcare, agriculture, and more.

Initial figures for February 2024 show that the average monthly wage was NIS 13,297, up 10.7% from February 2023.

Prior to Fitch's announcement, analysts had predicted a 60%-70% likelihood of Israel's rating being cut.

The Israel Tax Authority has begun to receive property ownership information from the Land Registry.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich: The Defense Ministry's expectations to receive a blank check for huge amounts is neither legitimate nor realistic.

Amir Yaron says the market is pricing Israeli government debt higher regardless of the credit agencies, and warns of a 16% rise in direct taxes unless haredim participate fully in the workforce.

Kahneman, a psychologist, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2002 for his work with Prof. Amos Tversky, who had died in 1996.

The Ministry of Finance says current proposals will neither answer security needs nor raise haredi participation in the workforce.

Budgets Commissioner Yogev Gardos warns that the government's bill will push haredi men to stay in yeshiva.

The Israeli-founded cybersecurity unicorn, now controlled by SoftBank, is mired in a crisis that has plagued the company over the past two years.

Even though the survey was conducted after October 7th, Israel was ranked as the fifth happiest country in the world.

The Knesset today passed the second and third reading of a law requiring the Ministry of Interior to issue ID cards and passports over the Internet.

The "Innovation during War" Conference, organized by Ibex Investors and Pearl Cohen law firm, discussed the challenges for entrepreneurs and investors during times of crisis and war.

The Israeli company has decided to wind down the unit, which provides retrofitted advanced driver assistance technology.

Claire Shelemay surveys tax system changes announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt that may affect Israelis with interests in the UK.

At the beginning of the war, the government approved the import of 65,000 construction workers, but only a trickle has arrived.

Low taxation and cheap real estate have made nearby Cyprus an attractive destination for Israeli investment, with many Israelis moving there.