On Thursday, the Israeli stock market closed on a high note, buoyed by impressive gains within key sectors such as insurance, financials, and communications. The TA-35 index in Tel Aviv advanced 1.04%, reaching an unprecedented closing level.
Among the leaders, Migdal Insurance (TASE:MGDL) rose by 4.37%, climbing 69 points to settle at 1,648.00. Phoenix Holdings Ltd (TASE:PHOE) followed closely, surging 3.67%, or 520 points, to finish at a record 14,700.00. Meanwhile, Bezeq Israeli Telecommunication Corp Ltd (TASE:BEZQ) gained 3.52% with an increase of 26 points, ending the session at 764.20—marking the highest close in five years.
Conversely, some sectors registered declines. Elbit Systems Ltd (TASE:ESLT) decreased 1.37%, shedding 3,070 points to end at 221,200.00. Tower Semiconductor Ltd (TASE:TSEM) dropped 1.14% or 480 points to 41,570.00, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TASE:TEVA) declined 0.75%, falling by 75 points to 9,924.00.
Market breadth showed a predominance of rising shares, with 318 advancing against 153 that declined, and 75 shares remaining unchanged at session close.
In the commodities arena, crude oil futures for March delivery fell 1.47%, down $0.89 to $59.73 per barrel. Brent crude experienced a similar decline of 1.41%, lowering by $0.92 to $64.32. Conversely, gold futures for February delivery increased by 0.71%, gaining $34.56 to trade at $4,872.06 per troy ounce.
Regarding currency markets, the U.S. dollar against the Israeli shekel (USD/ILS) edged down 0.25% to 3.14, while the euro to Israeli shekel (EUR/ILS) rate remained largely unchanged with a slight 0.12% increase to 3.68. The U.S. Dollar Index futures retreated 0.32%, settling at 98.25.