Israel's equity market finished the trading day in negative territory on Friday, led lower by losses in the banking, financials and insurance sectors. By the close in Tel Aviv the TA-35 index had fallen 0.91%, marking a fresh one-month low.
Among individual movers on the TA-35, Camtek Ltd (TASE:CAMT) was the top gainer, rising 2.73% - an increase of 1,540.00 points - to finish at 57,990.00. Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd (TASE:ENLT) also advanced, adding 1.95% or 490.00 points to end the session at 25,620.00. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TASE:TEVA) was up 1.80%, gaining 167.00 points to close at 9,432.00.
On the downside, Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd (TASE:CLIS) posted the largest decline on the index, dropping 4.30% - a fall of 1,020.00 points - to close at 22,690.00. Menora Miv Hld (TASE:MMHD) declined 3.82%, down 1,730.00 points to finish at 43,540.00. First International Bank of Israel Ltd (TASE:FIBI) slipped 3.47%, a decrease of 780.00 points, to end at 21,720.00.
Market breadth favored decliners: 243 stocks fell versus 204 that gained, while 110 issues finished unchanged on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
Notably, shares of First International Bank of Israel Ltd (TASE:FIBI) moved to a 52-week low, finishing the session down 3.47% at 21,720.00.
Commodities and currency moves
Commodity prices were mixed as the market closed. Crude oil for July delivery was down 0.59% or 0.45 to trade at $76.15 a barrel. Brent crude for August settlement rose 0.23% or 0.18 to $80.03 a barrel. Precious metals retreated: the August Gold Futures contract fell 1.84% or 78.20 to trade at $4,167.70 a troy ounce.
Currency rates also shifted slightly. USD/ILS strengthened by 0.57% to 2.96, while EUR/ILS climbed 0.74% to 3.40. The US Dollar Index Futures eased 0.04% to 100.57.
Market context and takeaways
The session was characterized by sector-led weakness, with banking, financials and insurance names among the main sources of downward pressure on the TA-35. A limited set of industrial and healthcare names provided counterbalance, but not enough to prevent the index from closing at a one-month low.
Investors also navigated mixed signals from commodities and modest currency movements as trading concluded in Tel Aviv.