Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., July 01, 2008 Sivan 28, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:54 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Markets in Brief Delek US in talks to buy U.S. refinery Advertisement Energy baron Yitzhak Tshuva is trying to take advantage of shrunken margins in refineries, to buy some. Specifically, one of his group companies, Delek US, is negotiating to buy a portfolio including a refinery, gas stations and convenience stores, a fuel storage and issuance terminal and a fleet of tanker trucks in the U.S. for about a billion dollars. Delek isn't saying who it's talking with and adds that the negotiations are preliminary, but it does have exclusive dibs until the end of July. Margins for refining have been shrinking because crude oil is spiking and the refiners can't seem to jack up prices of their products by the same degree. (Michael Rochvarger) Electra Real Estate selling 8 Berlin buildings Electra Real Estate is selling its 50% share in eight Berlin buildings, netting it 1.1 million euros on the 75.5-million-euro deal. The net figure is adjusted for the estimated fair value of the buildings. Analyst Noam Pinko at Psagot says the deal reflects just some of the value hidden in Electra Real Estate, and argues that the company is trading well below its net asset value. He adds that its shareholders equity is NIS 1.5 billion while its market capitalization on the TASE is a piddling NIS 1.26 billion. He also thinks the market's distrust of the company's repriced assets is overdone and is more a figment of the general disfavor with the real estate sector. (Rotem Sella) ? Bear Stearns selling Migdal CM stake The Migdal insurance company is buying out Bear Stearns' holdings in Migdal Capital Markets for NIS 236 million (around $70 million). Technically, Migdal owns its shares in Migdal Capital Markets through subsidiary Migdal Asset Management. Bear Stearns had bought 50% of Migdal Capital Markets in March 2005 for $11.3 million, so it's making a roughly $55 million profit on the ride. The deal on Bear Stearns' behalf is being carried out by its parent company, JPMorgan Chase. (Yuval Maoz) Bateman Litwin wins Gaz de France gas contract Benny Steinmetz mega-projects vehicle Bateman Litwin - it isn't Israeli, at least its owner is - won a 38-million-euro contract to build a natural-gas compressor station at Saint Victor for the French company GRTgaz, a subsidiary of Gaz de France. It's part of a consortium, Bateman Litwin explained, adding that the tender is worth 55 million euros all told. Its partners in the consortium are Friedlander and Cegelc. (Shmuel Shuster) Financitech makes NIS 1.2m on Houston deal Financitech says it has sold a 62-acre lot in Houston, Texas. The company expects to realize capital gains of NIS 1.8 million before tax, or NIS 1.2 million after tax, to be booked in its second-quarter financial statement. (TheMarker) Bezeq board okays NGN project Bezeq says its board agreed that the company may progress with its modular, long-term Next General Network project. This year will involve planning, two pilots and some software procurement. (TheMarker) Compugen reveals biomarkers for nephrotoxicity Compugen announced the discovery and experimental confirmation of a novel combination of four biomarkers for the early detection of drug-induced nephrotoxicity. Which means, a way to quickly notice that an administered drug is killing your kidneys. Or at least, a rat's kidneys. Data demonstrate that the biomarker signature may enable a much earlier prediction of drug-induced kidney toxicity during pre-clinical trials in rats in comparison with traditional diagnostic methods such as histopathology or clinical chemistry. (TheMarker) ? Grad student digs up DERT, gets award A new way of treating mitochondrial disorders using directed enzyme replacement therapy (DERT) won a doctoral candidate at the Hebrew University a Kaye Innovation Award. DERT involves administering an artificially manufactured version of the deficient or missing enzyme, along with a delivery component. What does this have to do with the capital market? Nothing, but it's interesting. (TheMarker) Leader sees growth slumping in second half Leader Capital Markets sees Israeli economic growth slowing to 3% or even 2.5% in the second half of 2008, if not less, because of the U.S. slowdown and the shekel's appreciation. The bond market is showing fear of stagflation, which means a combo of high inflation and slow growth. Until food and fuel prices calm down and the CPIs drop, the brokerage doesn't see fixed-income bond prices rallying. Also, Leader Capital Markets sees signs of private consumption in Israel weakening: Retail chain sales pulled back in May, as did purchasing with credit cards. (Tal Levy) Metis in talks to sell car rental unit The daily update on Metis Capital: It confirms reports that it's negotiating to sell Metis Capital Car Rental, assuming its board of directors approves the deal. (TheMarker) Bookmark to del.icio.us   Death penalty Iran hands down death sentence to man who spied for Israel. Robot hospital The place where IDF treats droids wounded in the line of fire.

Read & React Iran hands down death sentence to 'spy for Israel' Responses: 145 ANALYSIS / Prisoner swap is capitulation to blackmail by terrorists Responses: 89 Olmert: I voted for swap to prevent another Ron Arad Responses: 86 Gaza reporter: Israeli security officials broke my ribs Responses: 57 Hamas worried about rise in support for religious sects Responses: 66 More Headlines 02:34 Despite Hezbollah report, this is not the end of the Ron Arad story 21:16 New law stipulates: Territorial withdrawal only by referendum 01:08 Israel closes Gaza border crossings once again in wake of Qassam 21:06 It's official: MKs banned by law from visiting enemy states 22:40 Human remains discovered in Golan, possibly of missing soldier 00:51 Poll: 76% of Israelis feel safer living as Jews in Israel than in Diaspora 00:26 Police: Officer who shot himself during Sarkozy farewell definitely committed suicide 01:27 German officials defend their hunt for most-wanted Nazi, 94 02:01 Reputed Indian newspapers taken in by Nazi war criminal hoax 22:37 Israeli tennis duo Ram, Erlich advance to Wimbledon quarterfinals; Peer ousted 18:03 Gaza reporter: Israeli security officials broke my ribs 16:08 Syrian FM: I wish Syria had Israel's nuclear arsenal 02:50 Dog training or fashion design? Kids choose their day camp 17:38 Hamas: Kuntar deal sets precedent for release of Palestinian terrorists Previous Editions Select Day 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun

Special Offers Advertisement SAVE TALIA! and hundreds of cancer patients around the world Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved