Trading on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) in the last week of July was marked by high volatility, in keeping with the global trend, and mixed trend.
The TA-25 index which didn't change over the week is now 2.3% lower from its level at the beginning of the year, after an increase of 75% rate of return attained in 2009.
The TA-100 index decreased by 0.4% this week and is now lower by 3.4% from its level at the beginning of this year. This follows a sharp increase of 89% in 2009.
The Estate-15, index of large real estate companies' shares and the Finance index, increased 1.7% and 1.2%, respectively. The Tel Tech-15, index of large technology companies, rose by 0.6%.
The Israeli treasury sold 8.33% from its shares at Israel Discount Bank (whose shares are included in TA-25 index) to institutional investors through UBS for US $145 million. Earlier this year, in January, the Treasury sold 5% to institutional investors, through Deutsche Bank. Today, the remained holdings of the Israeli treasury at Discount Bank are 12%.
Four companies raised US $300 million this week in public bond issues. The total of public and institutional bond issues from the beginning of this year comes to US $6.7 billion, compared with US $9.3 billion raised in the entire 2009.
The Israeli treasury raised US $280 million this week in a local government bond issue, bringing the 2010 total to US $8.3 billion after total of US $17.4 billion raised in 2009.
The Bank of Israel announces that the interest rate for August 2010 will be increased by 0.25%, the second time this year, to a level of 1.75%.
