TEL AVIV, Israel, April 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Trading on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) during the last two weeks, which was reduced due to the Passover vacations, was characterized by a decline in prices in most leading TASE indices; Companies continue to raise capital through shares and debt offerings.

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TA-25  

The TA-25 index decreased 1.6% over the last two weeks, bringing year-to-date increase to 4.6%.

TA-100  

The TA-100 index decreased 1.6% over the last two weeks, bringing year-to-date increase to 4.9%.

TA-Biomed  

The TA-Biomed index decreased 3.6% over the last two weeks, bringing year-to-date increase to 3.2%.

TA RealEstate-15  

The TA RealEstate-15 index increased 0.5% over the last two weeks, bringing year-to-date increase to 4.2%.

Share Offerings 

In the last two weeks there were two share offerings amounting to US $24 million.

Since the beginning of the year the business sector raised US $1 billion through share offerings, after raising US $1.7 billion for the whole of 2013.

Corporate Bonds 

In the last two weeks there were three bond offerings by real-estate corporations amounting to US $140 million.

Since the beginning of the year the business sector raised US $3.0 billion through bond offerings of which US $0.8 billion on the "TACT International" system, after raising US $10.1 billion for the whole of 2013.

Government Bonds 

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) made a public bond offering listed on the TASE amounting to US $0.4 billion.

Since the beginning of the year the MoF raised US $5 billion in bond offerings on the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange, after raising US $18.2 billion for the whole of 2013.

CPI Index 

Figures released by the Central Bureau of Statistics indicate that in March 2014 the Consumer Price Index increased 0.3%, after negative indices and a cumulative decrease of 0.8% for the first two months of the year, and an increase of 1.8% for the whole of 2013.

Growth Rate 

The Central Bureau of Statistics released figures indicating that GDP growth came to 2.9% in the second half of 2013 on an annual basis. This follows a 3.0% growth rate in the first half of 2013 and 3.7% in the second half of 2012.

Sector Indices

                     2 WEEK
                     Period  2014
    TA Bluetech-50   -3.5%   0.2%
    TA Banks         -1.2%  -1.4%
    TA Real
    Estate-15         0.5%   4.2%

Foreign Exchange

               WEEK    2014
    Dollar/NIS  0.5%   0.2%
    Euro/NIS   -0.1%   0.5%

Facts & Figures 

The Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange features in March 2014:

• 488 companies listing equities.
• 555 Exchange Traded Notes.
• 33 series of government bonds.
• 72 Series of Institutional bonds.
• 605 series of corporate bonds.
• 1,271 mutual funds.
• Market Cap. (US$ billions)
  • Equities - 219
  • Government bonds - 139

Corporate bonds - 88

About TASE 

Established in September 1935, the Tel-Aviv Stock Exchange is Israel's sole securities exchange, offering an increasingly sophisticated range of products to investors, including equity, corporate bonds, treasury bills and notes, index products and derivatives.

International  

In recent years, TASE has enhanced its international presence, signing Memoranda of Understanding with the London Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, NYSE-Euronext the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and Toronto Stock Exchange.

For more information please contact: 

Idit Yaaron or Orna Goren, TASE, +972-(3)-5677-405/6

Visit the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange's Website: http://www.tase.co.il

SOURCE Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Ltd