shekel-dollar exchange rate

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, in the center of Tel Aviv, December 25, 2018. (Adam Shuldman/Flash90)

Shekel seesaws amid Knesset’s judicial selection drama

Currency regains earlier losses after opposition’s surprise win of seat on panel; Israeli shares close lower amid investor concern over ability to reach broad compromise

Illustrative: The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. November 29, 2020. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)

Shekel weakens as Netanyahu puts judicial reform back on the agenda

By Sharon Wrobel

June 19, 2023, 1:08 pm

Shekel weakens as Netanyahu puts judicial reform back on the agenda

Local currency returns to losses amid renewed uncertainty over the advancement of proposed changes to the judicial system

By Sharon Wrobel

A man shops for groceries at a Rami Levy supermarket in Jerusalem on February 3, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

June 15, 2023, 9:48 pm

Israeli inflation lower than forecast in May, boosting odds of rate hike pause

Consumer price index surprises with lower-than-expected monthly figure of 0.2% versus analysts’ expectations of 0.5%-0.6%

By Sharon Wrobel

June 14, 2023, 8:45 pm

Shekel seesaws amid Knesset’s judicial selection drama

Currency regains earlier losses after opposition’s surprise win of seat on panel; Israeli shares close lower amid investor concern over ability to reach broad compromise

By Sharon Wrobel

A illustrative view from Mount Carmel of the Haifa port and the Mediterranean Sea, January 2021. (Svarshik via iStock by Getty Images)

June 7, 2023, 10:05 am

OECD projects more moderate growth for Israel, citing judicial overhaul tensions risk

International economic organization slightly lowers Israeli GDP forecast to 2.9% in 2023 and 3.3% in 2024, notes underperformance of shekel and local stock market

By Sharon Wrobel

Illustrative: View of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, November 29, 2020. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

May 24, 2023, 6:01 pm

Shekel slumps 1.6% against dollar after IDF chief hints at war with Iran

Rattled market sends exchange rate to NIS 3.73 per dollar for only third time since early 2017; Lapid blames budget passage, noting currency muscled up when he was in power

By ToI Staff

A sign for Moody's Corp. in New York, August 13, 2010. (AP Photo/ Mark Lennihan/ File)

April 16, 2023, 4:30 pm

Dismissing Moody’s downgrade, Smotrich says any economic damage is fault of protests

Outgoing securities chief: ‘Ignoring risks undermines confidence in Israeli market’; economist warns: Israel set to be on investors’ and credit rating agencies’ ‘watch list’

By Sharon Wrobel

In this handout photo, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich arrive for a meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on February 23, 2023. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

April 15, 2023, 11:41 pm

PM’s associates reject Moody’s downgrade: ‘They aren’t well-versed on the issues’

Netanyahu, Smotrich in statement: ‘With God’s help’ economy will remain strong; sources close to PM claim agency ‘affected by the atmosphere, friends in Israel telling them tales’

By ToI Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich arrive at a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on February 23, 2023. (Alex Kolomoisky/Pool)

April 15, 2023, 4:51 pm

‘Economic earthquake’: Opposition lashes government after Moody’s downgrade

Lapid says ‘everything falling apart’ under current leadership; Liberman: Netanyahu ‘destroying economy’; Labor’s Lazimi slams ‘parade of false narratives’

By ToI Staff and Sharon Wrobel

April 15, 2023, 1:19 am

Moody’s downgrades Israel’s credit outlook, citing ‘deterioration of governance’

Leading credit agency demotes outlook from positive to stable despite reported talks with PM, Herzog on overhaul compromise; keeps credit rating at A1 amid ‘strong economic growth’

By Sharon Wrobel and ToI Staff

An illustrative photo of the Tel Aviv financial business district skyline. (Elijah Lovkoff via iStock by Getty Images)

April 13, 2023, 5:06 pm

Market braces for downgrade of Moody’s Israel credit outlook amid judicial jitters

Shekel continues to depreciate amid investor concern that, following credit agency’s earlier warnings, outlook could be changed from positive to stable in coming days

By Sharon Wrobel

Illustrative: 100 shekel banknotes, seen December 31, 2017. (Nati Shohat/Flash90)

March 24, 2023, 10:11 am

Shekel slumps after Netanyahu speech vowing to push ahead with overhaul legislation

Currency sees sharp swings over several hours as initial expectations that Defense Minister Gallant would call to halt reforms were dashed

By ToI Staff

Israelis march in Tel Aviv during a protest against the Israeli government's planned judicial overhaul, February 25, 2023. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

February 26, 2023, 1:53 pm

Daily Briefing Feb. 26: Why economic implications of judicial overhaul are felt now

Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman on a year to Ukraine war, what’s popping in Papua New Guinea and today’s Jordan summit; Tech Israel editor Sharon Wrobel on a weakening shekel

By ToI Staff

Israelis protest against government plans to overhaul the judicial system outside the Knesset, with the Bank of Israel headquarters seen in the background, February 20, 2023. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)

February 23, 2023, 3:04 am

Central bank chief said to call urgent meeting as financial system wobbles

Reported emergency summit of Financial Stability Committee comes after shekel weakens to lowest point in years, compounding worries over rising rate hikes, judicial makeover push

By ToI Staff

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, December 25, 2018. (Adam Shuldman/Flash90)

February 22, 2023, 4:40 pm

Shekel reverses earlier losses after Wall Street dive and judicial overhaul jitters

Economists expect continued shekel weakness amid political uncertainty to spur inflation, boosting the outlook for higher interest rates

By Sharon Wrobel

February 21, 2023, 4:41 pm

Shekel heads to 3-year low, government bonds slip after vote on judiciary changes

Investor concern mounts after first piece of legislation that would weaken country’s legal system passes its first vote in Knesset

By Sharon Wrobel