Israel's benchmark equity index finished the trading day in negative territory on Wednesday, with the TA-35 slipping 0.16% at the close in Tel Aviv. Sector pressure from Oil & Gas, Biomed and Banking helped drive the overall pullback.
Among components of the TA-35, OPC Energy Ltd (TASE:OPCE) led the winners, rising 5.79% - a 740.00 point gain - to close at 13,520.00. Kenon Holdings Ltd (TASE:KEN) followed with a 4.98% increase, up 1,270.00 points to end at 26,750.00, while Shapir Engineering Industry (TASE:SPEN) added 3.69% or 160.00 points to finish at 4,500.00.
On the downside, Delek Group (TASE:DLEKG) was the session's weakest large-cap, falling 3.89% - a decline of 3,520.00 points - to close at 86,930.00. Elbit Systems Ltd (TASE:ESLT) declined 3.67%, dropping 8,880.00 points to finish at 233,120.00, and NICE Ltd (TASE:NICE) lost 3.61%, or 990.00 points, to end the day at 26,410.00.
Market breadth was mixed but tilted toward advances, with 240 stocks rising on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange versus 226 that fell; 85 issues were unchanged.
OPC Energy's gain coincided with a milestone for the company: its shares rose to an all-time high, climbing 5.79% or 740.00 points to 13,520.00 at the close.
Commodity markets were broadly softer during the session. Crude oil for July delivery fell 3.17% - down $2.98 - to trade at $90.91 a barrel. Brent oil for August delivery lost 2.59%, a drop of $2.50, settling at $94.17 a barrel. Precious metals also weakened as the August Gold Futures contract declined 1.44% or $65.30 to trade at $4,469.70 a troy ounce.
In foreign exchange trading, the shekel moved lower against major currencies. USD/ILS was down 0.53% to 2.83, while EUR/ILS fell 0.36% to 3.29. The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.02% at 99.12.
Data snapshot
- TA-35: -0.16%
- Top gainers: OPCE +5.79%, KEN +4.98%, SPEN +3.69%
- Top losers: DLEKG -3.89%, ESLT -3.67%, NICE -3.61%
- Crude (July): $90.91 (-3.17%)
- Brent (Aug): $94.17 (-2.59%)
- Gold (Aug futures): $4,469.70 (-1.44%)
- USD/ILS: 2.83 (-0.53%); EUR/ILS: 3.29 (-0.36%)