We should enjoy this while we can. The good news just keeps coming. With most sectors doing well here in Israel, we have plenty of positive thins to think about
Israel economic growth unexpectedly rose to an annualized 4.7% in the 2nd quarter of 2010 [compared with 4.1% in the Euro Bloc, 2.4% - USA and 0.4% - Japan].
It is the fastest pace in more than two years, as exports [19% industrial exports surge in the 2nd quarter] and consumer spending [8.7% in the 2nd quarter] increased [as well as 11% rise of investment in fixed assets]... rising from 3.6% in the 1st quarter [and 4.3% in the 4th quarter of 2009]…"
This is really an economy running on all pistons… The Israeli economy’s rebound from the global financial crisis has been powered by exports, which make up almost half of gross domestic product. Sales abroad increased in July to $3.8BN, the most in two years… Europe’s economy expanded 1% in the 2nd quarter of 2010 from the previous three month.
Israel’s unemployment is likely to drop to 7.3% this year, from 7.6% in 2009 and continue falling to 6.8% next year.
According to Israel’s Ministry of Finance…Inflation eased in July to an annual 1.8%, its slowest pace in more than 2.5 years.
All this seems to give the average citizen a good feeling about life in spite of the dangers around us.
Gallup’s Global Wellbeing or life satisfaction Study of 155 countries (March, 2010) ranks Israel as number 8, Switzerland 9, Canada 10 and Australia 11 at a level of 62% following New Zealand (63%), Netherlands & Sweden (68%), Norway (69%), Finland (85%), Denmark (82%), ahead of the USA (57%), Brazil (58%), most of Europe, etc.
Showing posts with label Finance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Finance. Show all posts
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Palestinian Stock Exchange in Talks in Tel Aviv
Whilst there is so much talk about boycotts of Israeli products in general and products from the “settlements” in particular, the CEO of the Palestine Securities Exchange (PSE) met with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange CEO to consider ways of cooperating recently.
This according to Globes, Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 17, 2010
The last time representatives of the two stock exchanges met was in 1995, when the late Yitzhak Rabin was prime minister.
Based in Nablus, the PSE has 39 companies listed. The market is open five days a week from 10 am to 1 pm. Seven of the companies are banks, five are insurance, eight are investment firms, ten are manufacturers, and nine are service companies. The PSE only trades in stocks; there are no options or other financial instruments, because there is no demand for them.
Two months ago, the PSE CEO was a guest at the Herzog Fox Neeman law firm's Arab Business Conference, where he talked about the Palestinian capital market and options for raising money on it. Most of the participants at the conference were Israeli-Arab businessmen and Israelis who invest in the Arab sector.
It appears that as yet there is not even one Arab-owned company among the 771 companies with securities (either stocks and/or bonds) traded on the TASE in April.
Nevertheless, it seems business is business - it is good to see.
This according to Globes, Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 17, 2010
The last time representatives of the two stock exchanges met was in 1995, when the late Yitzhak Rabin was prime minister.
Based in Nablus, the PSE has 39 companies listed. The market is open five days a week from 10 am to 1 pm. Seven of the companies are banks, five are insurance, eight are investment firms, ten are manufacturers, and nine are service companies. The PSE only trades in stocks; there are no options or other financial instruments, because there is no demand for them.
Two months ago, the PSE CEO was a guest at the Herzog Fox Neeman law firm's Arab Business Conference, where he talked about the Palestinian capital market and options for raising money on it. Most of the participants at the conference were Israeli-Arab businessmen and Israelis who invest in the Arab sector.
It appears that as yet there is not even one Arab-owned company among the 771 companies with securities (either stocks and/or bonds) traded on the TASE in April.
Nevertheless, it seems business is business - it is good to see.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
ISRAEL SAFE HAVEN AMID GLOBAL CRISIS
"Since early 2008 it seems that Israel acquired the status of a safe haven, with sharp growth in the movement of capital into the market and the revaluation of the real exchange rate." So says the IMF in its world review.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) praised Israel's response to the recent economic crisis and said Israel had acquired a safe haven status. IMF economists noted that the aggressive monetary expansion executed by Israel, which included non-conventional methods, as well as the adoption of a two-year budget for 2009-2010, were all put into effect at the right time and at the required level.
"Israel endured the great recession well. Growth in Israel was among the first in the world to show a recovery – with a rise in GDP in the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2009," the IMF said in a draft annual report".
The IMF also praised the Bank of Israel for being the first central bank globally to raise its key lending rate in over a year (in September 2009) as part of an exit strategy to reverse some of the monetary policies it had pursued in response to the global crisis.
Now that is the reality of Israel. Yes, there are stories concerning the state of Israel Palestinian relations but there is so much good news to report, one feels proud of the country and its achievements in 61 short years.
What will be in 2010? There are so many ideas for improving the quality of life, one can only say we live in exciting times.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) praised Israel's response to the recent economic crisis and said Israel had acquired a safe haven status. IMF economists noted that the aggressive monetary expansion executed by Israel, which included non-conventional methods, as well as the adoption of a two-year budget for 2009-2010, were all put into effect at the right time and at the required level.
"Israel endured the great recession well. Growth in Israel was among the first in the world to show a recovery – with a rise in GDP in the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2009," the IMF said in a draft annual report".
The IMF also praised the Bank of Israel for being the first central bank globally to raise its key lending rate in over a year (in September 2009) as part of an exit strategy to reverse some of the monetary policies it had pursued in response to the global crisis.
Now that is the reality of Israel. Yes, there are stories concerning the state of Israel Palestinian relations but there is so much good news to report, one feels proud of the country and its achievements in 61 short years.
What will be in 2010? There are so many ideas for improving the quality of life, one can only say we live in exciting times.
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