The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) rose today. The Tel Aviv 25 Index rose 0.8% to 1,303.88 points, the Tel Aviv 100 Index rose 0.8% to 1,203.18 points, and the Tel-Tech Index rose 0.2% to 242.74 points. Turnover was NIS 2.1 billion.
The Tel Aviv 25 Index broke the 1,300 barrier for the first time today, and closed at a record high.
The main focus of investor attention was the energy sector, following a report this morning by Israel Corporation (TASE: ILCO) that several units have signed deals to buy gas from EMG, despite having held talks with the partners developing the Tamar lease.
Two of the gas buyers, Oil Refineries Ltd. (TASE:ORL), which rose 3.4%, and Israel Chemicals Ltd. (TASE: ICL), which rose 2.6%, led the gains on the TASE. Israel Chemicals had the day's highest turnover, at NIS 134 million. Parent company Israel Corporation rose 2.1%.
On the other hand, the energy partnerships that are developing Tamar fell sharply. Isramco Ltd. (Nasdaq: ISRL; TASE: ISRA.L) fell 6.6%, Avner Oil and Gas LP (TASE: AVNR.L) fell 5%, and Delek Drilling LP (TASE: DEDR.L) fell 3.2%. Delek Group Ltd. (TASE: DLEKG) fell 5%.
Ness Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: NSTC; TASE: NSTC) shot up 18.1% on talk that it is looking to be bought for about $250-300 million.
Magal Security Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: MAGS; TASE: MAGS) rose 8.3%, after reporting a deal to protect a port in Kenya.
In the bond market, long-term Shahar shekel bonds fell by up to 0.1%, and long-term Galil CPI-linked bonds fell by up to 0.2%. The corporate bond benchmark Tel-Bond 60 Index was unchanged.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 13, 2010
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