Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., February 05, 2008 Shvat 29, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:48 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Dollar slumps 0.5% to NIS 3.578 By Shlomi Sheffer Tags: histadrut, strike  Might the Histadrut labor federation actually declare a strike because of the dollar's fall? We'll find out as the sell-off continues. Yesterday, the dollar weakened by 0.45% more against the shekel, closing at an official exchange rate of NIS 3.578. Though the dollar has been feeble worldwide, it has lost more ground against the shekel than against most other currencies, partly because of the 1.25% interest rate gap in favor of the shekel (which makes risk-free investments in Israel, such as government bonds, more attractive than comparable U.S. assets). Moreover, the U.S. Federal Reserve is widely expected to be preparing for another half-percent interest rate cut next month. F Advertisement ears of recession in the U.S. and the low interest rate are leading investors to seek their fortunes in emerging markets again. Israeli share prices have benefited: Tel Aviv blue chips gained a hefty 2.6% on Sunday. But equity analysts at Bank Leumi predict that in the medium run, the dollar will rebound. Leumi adds that market prices already largely factor in another U.S. rate cut. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Prayer change Pope Benedict XVI nixes a reference to Jews` `blindness` over Jesus in a Catholic prayer. Blind and deaf in Jaffa 'The world's first professional deaf-blind theatre company' takes center stage in Jaffa.

Today Online IAF strike on Hamas police headquarters in Gaza kills seven Responses: 184 Burston: Barack Obama for Prime Minister of Israel Responses: 127 The Israel Factor: Is Obama really pro-Palestinian? Responses: 63 Foreign Min. backs Cairo request to double border forces Responses: 65 Harel & Issacharoff: The 300km problem along Egyptian border Responses: 53 U.K. to fund school trips of understanding to Auschwitz Responses: 77 More Headlines 01:22 Several hurt by Qassams in Sderot; IDF kills 9 in Gaza 01:33 Egypt warns Hamas against provocations on Gaza border 22:15 In about turn, U.S. says Iran may be able to make nukes by 2009 20:44 Pope nixes reference to Jews` `blindness` over Jesus in prayer 16:14 Haredi sect brands Chief Rabbi Metzger 'Zionist stooge,' wicked 21:43 Dimona bombing victim's son: Mom was to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary 00:03 Jordan urges U.S. to pressure Israel to stop Gaza strikes 23:46 Former IDF chief Dan Shomron hospitalized for apparent stroke 22:29 Obama predicts split decision in Democrat race on Super Tuesday 22:19 Father, son suspected of killing man they accused of stealing dog 16:53 Two teens admit vandalizing Jewish cemetery in southern Hungary 00:45 German children's book draws fire for alleged anti-religion bent Previous Editions Select Day 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan

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