Economy

Israeli businessman Amos Luzon invested about 440,000 NIS in open-market shares across Luzon Group, Luzon-Ronson, and Luzon Credit ahead of a shareholder vote on compensation.

Airoergy has signed a proposal to acquire 100% of the 7.84 MW FLUX wind farm in Poland for approximately 13.5 million euros, marking its expansion into wind energy.

The Jewish National Fund approved a 33 million shekel budget for 2026-2027 to fund detailed urban planning in Israel's northern periphery, tackling seismic risks and market failures.

The Supreme Court ruled that real estate developers in Target Price housing programs are not automatically entitled to construction fee exemptions, saving local authorities hundreds of millions of shekels.

Asian street food chain Asiatico is investing 2 million NIS in rebranding and plans to open 6 new franchise branches, aiming for 10 locations nationwide by 2027.

A contact lens recall in New Zealand and Australia triggered a 10% drop in SHEIN shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange amid mounting financial losses and regulatory hurdles.

Ari Real Estate, controlled by Tzachi Abu, moves to secure full control of a massive commercial complex in Ashdod through an option to buy out Iron Real Estate's stake for 137 million shekels.

Strauss Group's Elite brand announced the return of its nostalgic Jelly Berachot candies to shelves in Israel, alongside a limited edition of Tov Ta'am chocolate wafers.

A new land tender in the Bedouin town of Hura offers plots for semi-detached homes at a total cost of around 100,000 shekels, presenting rare sub-2 million shekel private housing opportunities.

Hatzi Hinam supermarket chain launched a new chef-driven prepared food market at its Rehovot branch, featuring daily dishes by chefs Moshe Badishi and Shahaf Shabtai.

The Regional Labor Court ordered Clal Insurance to pay 50,000 shekels for discriminating against a blind job applicant by refusing to accommodate screen-reader software.

Air Baltic has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York due to soaring jet fuel prices driven by the Iran conflict, securing a 350 million euro financing deal while flights continue as scheduled.

The Fattal Hotel Group has launched its second hotel in Athens, the Leonardo Hotel Athens City Center, bringing its active properties in Greece to five as part of a broader European expansion.

Tamira Yardeni, founder of Teddy Productions, transfers control of the iconic 55-year-old content firm to long-time executives Yoav Tzafir and Meital Cohen, opting against external sale offers.

Bituach Yashir is offering a 200 shekels gift card to customers joining comprehensive car insurance via AI engines like ChatGPT and Gemini, following a successful Q2 2026 with 117 million shekels in profit.

The Tex-Mex chain Rapidos, part of the BBB Group, opened its first Eilat branch with a 1 million NIS investment, expanding its nationwide footprint to 7 locations.

The labor dispute at AIG Israel escalated as the service department joined a full strike, halting all company operations amid a deadlock in collective agreement negotiations.

Israeli entrepreneur Liran Weitzman sold a stake in his Sircle hotel management company to India's PRISM for 150 million euro, valuing his European operations at up to 300 million euro.

Yohananoff supermarket chain launches an unprecedented promotion, offering children's bicycles for just 199 shekels ahead of the Tishrei holidays alongside introducing smart shopping carts.

US President Donald Trump's childhood home in Queens, New York, has been sold for $1.93 million following extensive renovations by its previous buyer.

Asian markets opened the week mixed as semiconductor stocks plunged following AI leaders' calls to slow development. Meanwhile, oil prices surged after Saudi pipeline disruptions.

A hacker exploited a vulnerability in the Symbiosis bitcoin bridge to mint $46.1 billion in syBTC tokens without backing. Market liquidity limited the actual damage to just $336,000.

The share of unemployed academics in Israel surged 46% to 20.5% in August 2026, driven by tech sector softening and seasonal educational layoffs, reflecting a broader weakening of high-skilled labor.

A review of US-exposed mutual funds in Israel reveals that over three years, almost none beat the S&P 500, echoing global data showing high active fund underperformance.

Houthi control of Yemen's western coast and attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure are compounding global oil market strains. With the Hormuz strait restricted and the East-West pipeline damaged, spare capacity is choked by severe export bottlenecks and surging diesel prices.

The deal to sell credit card company CAL is on the verge of collapse after the Israel Competition Authority and the buyers failed to reach a regulatory agreement regarding potential conflicts of interest involving Super-Pharm.

The National Insurance Institute of Israel announced adjusted payment schedules for benefits and grants in September 2026 due to the holidays, with average payments rising to 5,280 shekels.

Apollo Global Management is in advanced talks to acquire Johnson & Johnson's orthopedics division in a mega-deal potentially exceeding $20 billion.

Israeli fashion chain Urbanica reports a 70% surge in Q2 2026 net profit to 30.6 million shekels alongside aggressive low-price promotions.

Israel's housing market grew by nearly 13% from May to July, led by a surprising 22% surge in apartment sales in Tel Aviv and strong activity across peripheral cities.

Israel plans to introduce mandatory landlord reporting and long-term lease incentives to regulate the 50 billion NIS rental market, aiming to curb soaring prices and stabilize contracts for 2.5 million tenants.

The Osher Ad chain launches holiday promotions for Sukkot, offering foldable Sukkahs, bamboo roofing, and synthetic grass starting at 59.90 NIS to help families reduce holiday expenses.

US President Donald Trump announced plans to remove a 15% tariff on Irish whiskey following appeals during a golf tournament in Ireland, boosting spirits producers and US companies.

US President Donald Trump pressured the Federal Reserve ahead of its rate decision, arguing the US must have the lowest interest rates globally despite rising inflation.

Intensive infrastructure work for the planned ultra-Orthodox city of Plugot near Kiryat Gat has been documented continuing through the Sabbath, sparking controversy.

The digital currency market closed the week with a negative trend. Bitcoin dropped 5.05% to $76,923, while Ripple plunged 7.45% and Ethereum declined 2.45%.

Elon Musk maintains a massive lead as the world's richest person with $913.1 billion, while Michael Dell overtakes Sergey Brin for fourth place amid market volatility.

Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron used his personal credibility to convince banks to maintain ties with the Palestinian Authority until 2027, averting an immediate diplomatic crisis caused by government inaction.

Altshuler Shaham Finance founders are advancing a 1 billion NIS deal to sell their controlling stake at a 1.8 billion NIS valuation, with CEO Yair Levinstein joining as a minority partner.

Nike faces a severe financial and cultural slump, with its market cap dropping by over $200 billion. Amid rising competition from brands like On Cloud and Adidas, new CEO Elliott Hill aims to restore the sportswear giant's roots.