Weekly Review: 8 - 12 January 2012 TASE trading in the second week of January 2012 ended on a positive note for all leading indices, continuing last week's upward trend.

• The TA-25 index gained 1.4% over the week, bringing its year-to-date return to 4.0%, following an 18% decline in 2011.

• The TA-100 index increased 1.8% over the week, a 4.7% increase since the beginning of the year, following last year's 20% decline.

• The TA BlueTech-50 index stood out this week, increase of 3.5%, while the TA Banks and TA Real Estate-15 indices rose 1.5% and 0.6% respectively.

• For the first time, the Israeli government issued on TASE, shekel denominated non-linked government bonds for 30 years for a sum of US $60 million. In total the government floated US $470 million bonds on the local market this week.

• Early estimates released by the Ministry of Finance indicate that the 2011 government deficit will come to 3.3% of GDP, as opposed to 3.7% of GDP in 2010.

• The NIS/dollar exchange rate on 12 January came to 3.836, a weekly decrease of 0.1% against the shekel. Since the beginning of the year, the dollar has appreciated 0.4% against the NIS, following its 7.7% appreciation in 2011.

• The NIS/Euro exchange rate on 12 January came to 4.8871, a 0.6% decline over the week. Since the beginning of the year, the Euro has lost 1.0% against the NIS, following a 4.2% appreciation in 2011.