Economy

A History of Struggles: Is Haim Katzman Really Ready to Part with Control of the Company He Founded?
From Ormat, through A. Dori, to Norstar and G City, the veteran businessman has experienced several confrontations and struggles over the last two decades, from which he often emerged battered. All this while the value of his life's work, the real estate company G City, continues to shrink. Following the collapse of the deal to sell control of the company to Tzahi Abu, the market wonders how much...

How much did the World Series of Poker finalists actually take home after taxes?
The nine players at the World Series of Poker final table collectively won $30.25 million. However, more than $12.2 million of that is expected to be paid out to tax authorities.

Osher Ad slashes the price of a sought-after product — only 79.90 NIS
The chain is offering the smartwatch for children at an unprecedented price of less than eighty shekels, providing an effective solution that includes satellite tracking and video calls without the need for a mobile phone.

Drama in the Energy Market: USA Freezes Assets of Billionaire Close to Trump
A well-known businessman close to the White House is now required to liquidate his businesses in a leading oil producer, following a dramatic decision by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control.

VAT Payment Revolution: Tax to be Transferred at Point of Sale
The Tax Authority is promoting a smart system where businesses will transfer VAT to the state at the moment of payment, aiming to reduce bureaucracy and combat fictitious invoices. The move is expected to inject billions into public coffers. Meanwhile, the Treasury warns that VAT may rise to 19% in 2027.

The Buffett era is over: Berkshire Hathaway is finally opening the vault
Berkshire Hathaway's massive cash pile is starting to shrink, and Wall Street sees this as the first sign of change in the post-Warren Buffett era. The company ended the second quarter with $364.7 billion in cash and short-term government bonds, a 4% decrease compared to the previous quarter — the first decline in its cash reserves quarter-over-quarter in four years. The reason is not weakness in...

A celebration for investors: Bitcoin in positive growth, green trend in the market
The digital currency market shows a positive trend with increases in all leading currencies. Ripple showed the highest jump, followed by Binance Coin. Ethereum and Bitcoin follow them in the growth index, and last are Tether USDt and USDC.

In this game of musical chairs, no one will want to be caught last with $325 trillion in rapidly eroding debt
Giant investors like Ray Dalio, Jeffrey Gundlach, and Prof. Kenneth Rogoff believe that America has entered a critical phase at the end of which the government will struggle to finance its debt, the dollar's purchasing power will be cut, and its status as the dominant global power will be lost. There is a belief that the process could happen in just a few years. Why does the US have one of the...

Ranking of Israel's wealthiest: Eyal Ofer beats Miriam Adelson
Forbes live data reveals significant changes in the ranking of Israeli billionaires: Eyal Ofer takes the top spot after a surge in his net worth, while Miriam Adelson has lost ground and dropped to second place.

Trading fee ranking in Israel: The entity that took first place
A new player has entered the stock exchange's fee comparison, and upon its first entry, it has changed the entire picture. While investment houses fight over every fraction of a percent, the veteran banks are still charging much more. Where are you on the map, and are you paying too much?

JPMorgan CEO warns: "The quiet risk threatening the market"
The CEO of the largest bank in the US points to a risk that is barely heard of: hidden loans that inflate the stock market and could turn a local shock into a wave of declines. Is it time to take a closer look at your portfolio?

Weekly Crypto: Bitcoin recovers, positive trend in the market
The crypto market experienced a positive trend during the week, with the exception of Ripple, which fell by 3.42%. Bitcoin rose by 1.63%, its market cap stands at 1.30 trillion dollars, and it is trading at 64,958.7 dollars.

Exceptional deals: Mini-penthouse in Tel Aviv sold for 3.75 million shekels
The BSR Group project in the east of the city looks a bit crowded, but it has large balconies. A deal where you can get a 66 sqm balcony for less than 4 million shekels is rare in Tel Aviv. And also: where was a semi-detached house sold in the city for 4.35 million shekels?

The largest construction project in Denmark's history: an artificial peninsula for 35,000 people
The housing shortage in Copenhagen has led authorities to create the artificial peninsula of Lynetteholm. By drying out shallow waters using soil from construction sites, the project aims to address the housing crisis while protecting the city from rising sea levels.

Berkshire doubled net profit, and the cash pile grew to nearly $360 billion
Berkshire Hathaway reported a sharp jump in second-quarter results, supported by rising share prices in its massive stock portfolio. The company's cash pile grew to $359.2 billion, while net profit attributable to shareholders more than doubled to $25.67 billion.

Phenomenon: Entrepreneurs who made billion-dollar exits are returning to work as employees
After billion-dollar exits, prominent tech entrepreneurs are stepping down from CEO roles to join AI giants like Anthropic and OpenAI as individual technical contributors.
From austerity to show-off: despite the cost of living, Israelis refuse to close their wallets
Despite the cost of living, overdrafts, and mortgages, Israelis continue to fly, eat, celebrate, and 'set the table'. From austerity to show-off, generosity has become a national trait that is hard to extinguish. This is how we became a people that spends and continues to redraw the red line.

Israel's foreign exchange reserves grew in July by $93 million
The increase in Israel's foreign exchange reserves is attributed to profits from the Bank of Israel's investment portfolio management, which were partially offset by government withdrawals for purchases abroad.

Kalfon to appeal again to Smotrich: A necessary move for stadium safety
Following a violent incident at a Hapoel Petah Tikva match where a steward struck a fan with an iron rod, Erez Kalfon, chairman of the Football Leagues Administration, will again appeal to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to include stewarding in the list of 'preferred jobs.' Walla! Sport has learned that Kalfon previously sent similar requests in December 2024, which remained unanswered.

After the reports: Bezeq to distribute 515 million shekels to shareholders
Bezeq finished a successful quarter and will distribute 515 million shekels to shareholders: 415 million shekels in cash and 100 million shekels through a share buyback.

From Sailing Instructor to Chairman: How Gil Roshinek Boosted Electra Real Estate's Value 16-Fold
"After 2008, we sold assets at any price to avoid a debt settlement. I went on a crazy realization journey. I sat in front of senior officials at Deutsche Bank, to whom we owed millions, to extract a few shekels," recalls Gil Roshinek, Chairman of Electra Real Estate.

Trouble at Wendy's: Lost second place in US sales to Burger King
Burger King has overtaken Wendy's as the second-largest hamburger chain in the US by sales. This shift follows six consecutive quarters of declining same-store sales for Wendy's.

US Postal Service in critical condition: borrowing money from employee pensions to survive
The United States Postal Service (USPS) reported a net loss of $2.5 billion in the third fiscal quarter. The agency is currently borrowing from employee pension funds to maintain operations.

With TAMA works starting: how much did investors pay for a 3-room apartment in Bat Yam?
The apartment was sold for 1.63 million shekels after a month on the market, coinciding with the start of a TAMA 38 project in the building. According to the broker, urban renewal has increased the property's value, attracting investors and home upgraders. Additional real estate deals from the past week are included.

Working in wartime: The formula for team success in uncertain times
In an era of remote work under sirens, reserve duty, and shifting client requirements, some teams adapt quickly while others fall behind. A new study from Tel Aviv University reveals what enables teams to adapt faster and how this capability improves performance in a dynamic environment.

The expert explains: Is 2 million shekels enough for retirement?
A conversation with Ela Alkalay, Chair of IBI Mutual Funds and social activist. We discuss the rule of thumb for a worry-free retirement, the population group at greatest risk, and pension contributions that started as a smart idea but got out of control. How to prepare for retirement even at age 40? A new series.

New York: Wealthy tenants occupy a surprising share of the rent-stabilized housing market
In Manhattan, rent in stabilized apartments is half the market price, while in the Bronx the gap is only 12%.
Danger to democracy: What happens when private capital is higher than the country's GDP?
Last month, Elon Musk crossed the trillion-dollar mark, and estimates suggest five more trillionaires will join him within a decade. Does all this wealth threaten democracy? And why are more and more warnings being heard on the subject?

USA: Sharp decline in the probability of an interest rate hike following weak employment data
The probability of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike in September has fallen to 43.9% following weak July employment data. The number of jobs decreased by 23,000, against an expected gain of 83,000.

Weak US employment data in July - a surprising decrease of 23,000 jobs
US employment saw a surprising decline of 23,000 jobs in July, missing the forecast of 83,000 new positions. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 4.1%.

Banks and chips pushed the indices; successful debut for Palo Alto
The TA-35 index climbed by about 1% while the TA-90 index continues to lag behind in the shadow of weakness in real estate stocks. Tower surged by 9% and led the chip gains, and Palo Alto rose by about 3% on its first day in the local indices. Towards next week: the market is waiting for the US employment report and is preparing for a step up in the local earnings season.

107,000 people did not win a discounted apartment: the harsh reality ahead
While 8,000 people won a discounted apartment this week, over 100,000 participants were left empty-handed. Amid a shortage of ready-to-move-in housing and political maneuvering within the Israel Land Authority, the real estate market faces significant challenges.

Celebrity psychic from Akko launches 'Psychic Academy': course pricing revealed
Eden Hodia Cohen, a psychic who gained popularity through her security and political predictions, is launching a 'Psychic Academy'. How much does the card reading course cost and what are the early bird savings?

Analyst with an optimistic forecast: "Bitcoin will soar to $85,000"
Crypto expert Michael van de Poppe estimates that Bitcoin is on its way to a 25%–30% breakout in the coming months, despite the sharp price erosion and market volatility.

Wall Street futures rise ahead of employment data release
Wall Street futures signal gains. European markets are trading positively, while Asian markets closed mixed. Bank of America estimates that the US labor market added about 80,000 jobs in July. Monday shareholders approved doubling the compensation package for the CEOs.

Apartment from a contractor or second-hand: differences that can cost tens of thousands of shekels
The payment schedule, index linkage, entry date, securities, and liability for defects vary between the two transactions; a new apartment provides legal protections but includes uncertainty and future costs, while second-hand allows viewing the property and requires careful verification of rights and the seller.

Hazi Hinam Launches "FestiAugust" with Massive Sales
The Hazi Hinam supermarket chain has invited customers to "FestiAugust," an alcohol and beer festival held at selected branches. The event features tasting stands from leading brands, live music, and significant discounts on a wide variety of beverages.

Businessman who accumulated debts of 50 million shekels: "I did not steal. We simply collapsed"
Yuval Rafael, founder of YallaRent, opened apartments for evacuees on October 7, but a dispute over offsets with the state and excessive leverage led to the company's collapse with debts of 50 million shekels: "I don't believe I reached this situation."

World's Richest Ranking: Elon Musk gains billions, Mark Zuckerberg loses ground
The past week saw a sharp rise in market valuations, contributing to significant wealth growth for the world's five richest individuals. Who achieved the largest gain, what shifts occurred at the top, and what is the current net worth of the leader?

National Insurance Institute warns debtors: key deadlines for August 17
Mid-month is the deadline for VAT, income tax, and National Insurance reporting. Due to the weekend, deadlines have been adjusted; timely filing is essential to avoid penalties and maintain social benefits.