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The Bank Hapoalim published its financial results for the first quarter of 2020, and the Corona crisis was clearly evident with a sharp 76.6% drop in net profit to NIS 192 million. Bank Hapoalim is the first of the banks to publish its Q1 reports. The decrease in net profit is a significant increase in NIS 757 million in credit losses, including a group provision of NIS 603 million due to uncertainty over the effects of the Corona crisis and a preliminary step to the possibility of borrowers, including large borrowers such as a fuel group that will find it difficult to meet payments. The...

First signs of the impact of the Corona crisis on the housing market: According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, between January and March, 8,090 new apartments were sold, down 11.4% from October to December, where 9,130 ​​apartments were sold. This is the first official figure that reflects the state of the field's sales, following the companies' reports that since the beginning of the restrictions on the sale of apartments, they were almost completely stopped

Despite the opening of malls and shopping malls, the retail chain industry holds the highest rate of paid leave without leave (ILS): 33% of retail chain employees are still on vacation, compared to an average of 18% in May. The highest among the economic sectors, with the lowest rate recorded in the finance and insurance sectors, where 5.2% of employees are still in the foreign currency. This data comes from a fourth Bezeq survey in May, published by the Central Bureau of Statistics, to examine the state of the business when the Corona virus spread. He has three surveys conducted by the...

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo comes to Israel for about eight hours to discuss Netanyahu with two key issues: Iran and China. Washington is very unhappy with the acquisition of Israeli infrastructure by China. It is about the two ports of Israel in Haifa and Ashdod and that China is the one that will establish Israel's new ports. Alongside these, the US is unhappy with the acquisition of Beijing's Tnuva and Dor Alon Tabor power plant. In statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz; and designated foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi, after meeting...

Health Ministry Director Moshe Bar Siman-Tov announced Tuesday morning to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Health Minister Yaakov Litzman about his desire to resign. In a letter he sent to the two, he wrote that "upon the establishment of the government, I would like to announce my resignation from the office of the Director General. The State of Israel service is the greatest privilege. After almost 20 years in public service, of which five years as Director General of the Ministry of Health, it is time to move on. "I am proud of my years as CEO and especially in dealing with the...

A fall in potash and phosphate prices resulted in a 57% drop in Israel Chemicals (ICL) 's net profit in the first quarter of 2020, totaling $ 60 million - 5 cents a share. ICL's revenue, managed by Reviv Zoller, fell 7% in the first quarter of 2020 compared to its corresponding quarter in 2019, totaling $ 1.3 billion - 4% more than the analysts' forecasts. The decrease in ICL's revenues (-2.89% 1210) was due to a 15% ($ 44 per tonne) drop in potash prices in the last quarter compared to the corresponding quarter, to $ 250 per ton. ICL was also hit by a fall in the price of green phosphoric...

Education and health ministries on Monday concluded an outline for a gradual return to elementary, middle and high school studies. The ministry has concluded that fourth-12th graders will return to school this Sunday, May 17, but only for part of the week and in a limited format. All classes will be divided into separate groups of 20 students. According to the layout, students will not be required to wear a mask, but will keep two meters apart. The teacher will also keep a similar distance from the students, and if he travels between them, they will be required to wear masks. It was...

The government ministers (Sunday) approved the opening of public gardens throughout the country, as well a availables the use of the amusement and fitness facilities there, but without amusement facilities. The gaming facilities will not open for use. The decision was made by telephone meeting of the ministers. This is a continuation of the exit strategy from the Corona crisis. At the meeting, which was chaired by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, the ministers also confirmed that the isolation obligation in the hotel would be revoked from abroad, and they could now stay in domestic isolation....

In April, 177,000 new job seekers registered - down 76% compared to March, when the number of new unemployed was 756,000. According to an April report released by the Employment Service on April, an average of 6,200 new jobseekers were registered each day. Of the new jobseekers in April, about 21,000 were laid off (about 12%), compared with about 6% in March. This is due to a 79% reduction in the use of foreign currency. "The Employment Service expects many of the IDF job seekers to be laid off," it said. The number of unemployed reached a record high of 1.15 million in April, which is 28%...

The Treasury has circulated a memorandum of law that will increase spending in the face of the Corona crisis by NIS 15.6 billion. The same extension is intended to fund the grants to encourage NIS 6 billion in employment, which was agreed to be distributed as a result of the retail chains' protest as well as the establishment of a dedicated loan fund for risk-averse businesses that were refused by the banks. The fund will receive a larger state guarantee and will provide NIS 5 billion in loans. According to the Accountant General's Budget Report, NIS 20 billion has been paid to date in the...