The main stock indices on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) rose today. The Tel Aviv 25 Index rose 0.17%, to 1,200.43 points, and the Tel Aviv 100 Index rose 0.16%, to 1,097.62 points. The BlueTech 50 Index fell 0.15%, to 325.71%. Turnover totaled NIS 1.22 billion. In bonds, the TelBond 20 Index rose 0.27%, to 305.13 points.
The shekel strengthened on the foreign exchange market. The Bank of Israel set the shekel-dollar representative exchange rate at NIS 3.565/$, down 1.082% on yesterday's rate, and the shekel-euro rate at NIS 4.726 /€, down 1.001%.
Bank stocks stood out positively, and the Banking Index rose 1.5%. Bank Leumi rose 1.49%, and Bank Hapoalim 1.85%.
The committee set up to improve liquidity on the TASE issued an interim report today. It recommends changing the ownership structure of the TASE, reducing taxation of capital gains, changing the trading week to Monday to Friday, cutting minimum commissions, and operating foreign exchange trading.
Israel Chemicals, which has been rising strongly recently, was the heaviest traded stock today, but closed unchanged. Fertilizer stocks rose on Wall Street yesterday.
Biomed company Pluristem announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office had granted the company a patent covering methods for the treatment of peripheral artery disease with placental-derived adherent stromal cells. The treatment for PAD is one of Pluristem’s primary drug development areas. Based on priority date, the expected expiration date of this patent is at least until 2028.
“This patent is an important milestone in Pluristem’s intellectual property strategy and brings us closer to realizing our vision to become a world leader in developing and manufacturing cell therapy products,” said Zami Aberman, Chairman and CEO of Pluristem. “We believe it is a key asset and significantly enhances our competitive position in cell therapy-based therapeutics.” The company's share price rose 5.17%.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 11, 2013
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