Israelis Overdraw but Tend to Be Good Credit Risks, Database Shows
CofaceBdi figures show vast majority have an ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ rating
Bank of Israel
The Bank of Israel was created by the Ministry of Finance in 1948 as the state’s central bank. It is charged with managing the monetary policy of the state and providing economic conditions to promote growth and success, but the government retains control over inflation targets as part of its economic policy.
In order to clearly define the relationship between the Bank of Israel and the government and to ensure the independence of the central bank, the Bank of Israel Law was passed in 1954, officially establishing the Bank of Israel, and the bank’s headquarters was established in Jerusalem.
The Governor of the Bank of Israel has a role in advising the government and in shaping monetary policy in the country. In accordance to Knesset law, the Bank of Israel conducts research by monitoring and analyzing developments in the Israeli economy and submits its results in the Bank of Israel’s Annual Report.
Another important aspect of the Bank of Israel is its role in the foreign currency market. By monitoring and assessing developments in Israel’s foreign currency market, the Bank of Israel conducts the exchange rate policy and publishes the representative exchange rate of the New Israeli Shekel against foreign currencies.
The current Governor of the Bank is internationally renowned economist Stanley Fischer. With Fischer’s guidance, the Bank of Israel helped the Israeli economy overcome the global economic downturn quicker than other Western nations, and his policies are credited with helping the Israeli economy continue to grow.
Top Israeli Officials Warn of Growing Budget Deficit Amid Political Standstill
Bank of Israel governor vows to use all tools at his disposal to head off a slowdown, while senior Finance Ministry official warns of bigger problems for 2020 when the deficit could reach 3.8% and even more after election
Analysis Is Israel About to Join the Negative Interest Rates Club?
The central bank has few tools to cope with economic downturn. Analysts say it may have to explore untested waters
Deflation Raises Prospect That Bank of Israel Will Try to Tamp Down the Mighty Shekel
July consumer price index fell 0.3%, but home prices rose 0.5% amid signs that the market is heating up again
Central Bank Calls for Spending Surge to Boost Flagging Israeli Productivity Growth
Report urges gov’t to undertake wide-ranging program to make up for years of under-investment, calls for end to industrial subsidies
Opinion Israel Faces Political Deadlock – So Why Are the Markets So Strong?
Foreign investors and Israel’s rich aren’t bailing out, they’re bailing in. Why is the shekel strengthening when all the polls predict the end of the Netanyahu era?
Bank of Israel Says One Thing, Markets See Another
Despite governor’s promise last week there would be no interest rate rise, the shekel remains strong
Analysis In Israel, Industry Is a Thing of the Past
Services are the economy's engine, and they don’t need a weak shekel
Anxious About the Strong Shekel, Manufacturers Seek a Tax on Forex Speculation
The proposal comes amid concerns that the Bank of Israel isn’t serious about reversing the currency’s appreciation
Dollar, Euro Touch New Lows Against Shekel, With Pound at 25-year Nadir
Israeli currency’s strength may forestall a rate hike and force the central bank to return to market intervention
Israeli Shekel Is Among the Strongest Currencies in the World, Which Isn’t Necessarily Good News
Exporters are having a harder time keeping their products price-competitive, while travelers to Israel will find prices even higher than usual
Report: Israeli Banks Paying Fat Salaries to More Staff Even as Overall Payrolls Declined
Number of workers earning one million shekels or more grew 18 percent in 2018, Israel central bank says
Power to the Shekel: Israel’s Currency Is One of the World’s Strongest, Again
Annual economic growth topping 3 percent and a low debt-to-GDP ratio of 61 percent can’t help but impress, even if slower global growth is set to take a slight toll in Israel
Stress Test Shows Israeli Banks Could Handle Crisis
Central bank warns of other risks from cyberattacks that need to be examined
Israel's Central Bank Might Resume Buying of Foreign Currency
Minutes from a meeting of the Monetary Committee reveal concerns about the shekel’s strength
Israel’s ‘Captive’ Regulators Fail to Properly Supervise Banks, Knesset Committee Says
The Bank of Israel's Banks Supervisor takes the most blame for generous credit terms to tycoons
Israel Launches Its First Consumer Credit Database
Officials hope it will help lower loan costs for household while critics worry about a dangerous borrowing binge
Next Government Faces Economic Slowdown Without the Tools to Contend With It
A growing deficit will require the treasury to cut spending and/or raise taxes just as a global economic deceleration seems to be getting underway
Analysis Under a Decade of Netanyahu Rule the Israeli Economy Has Gone Backwards
An annual report by the Bank of Israel gives the former finance minister an F on the economy, pointing to loss of growth engines
Underqualified Workers Costing Israeli Economy $11 Billion a Year, Central Bank Says
Report places blame mainly on poor quality of schools, estimates wages could rise just by boosting Israeli skills to OECD average
Bank of Israel Urges Tax Hikes to Cover Growing Budget Deficit
Annual report scores government fiscal policy, warns overspending cannot continue at current levels
Bank of Israel Warns of Long-term Decline in Economic Growth
Study says changing demographics will weigh on the economy over next decades
Israel's Central Bank Takes Dovish Stance on Interest Rates
Monetary panel signals no hike in base lending rate likely anytime soon
Regulatory Surprise May Snag Sale of Leumi Card to Warburg Pincus
Officials scrambling for solution after Bank of Israel official says that three insurers financing the $690 million deal must get a control permit
Bank of Israel Chief Vows ‘Cautious and Gradual’ Rise in Interest Rates
The central bank also reduces its 2019 economic growth forecast to 3.4%, down from a previous prediction of 3.6%
Israeli Economic Growth Slowed in 2018, Preliminary Figures Show
GDP expanded 3.2%, but economists are mostly optimistic for 2019 amid expected higher government and consumer spending
New Israel Central Bank Chief Says His Challenge Would Be Normalizing Rates
Amir Yaron aims for middle ground between rapid rate rises and delaying them
Business in Brief: Bank of Israel Frets Over Income-producing Real Estate
Microsoft reportedly eyeing rival bid to Xilinx for Israel’s Mellanox ■ Elbit’s IMI Systems wins $200 million Pentagon contract ■ Government looks to coordinate crypto-currency regulations ■ Stocks snap three-session decline
After Years of Decline, Israeli Government Debt Looks Set to Climb
The debt-to-GDP ratio has been improving since 2004, but the trends now aren’t favorable