Further to its rating of the biggest companies in the market in commerce, industry and the services, Dun & Bradstreet is today (Monday) publishing its 1996 rating of the banking and capital market sectors. The rating of these sectors this year is based on shareholders’ equity figures, rather than on net profit, as in preceding years.
The bank holding companies rating is identical to last year, Bank Hapoalim leading both in profitability and equity. Return on capital, including the effect of once-only transactions, rose in almost all banks. The highest rate, 11%, was achieved by Bank Hapoalim, followed by First International with 9.2% and Bank Leumi with 8.1%.
Among bank and non-bank finance companies, Dun & Bradstreet note, 1996 saw slow-down and reduced volume of activity. Topping the bank finance companies rating is Leumi Leasing, with $412 million assets.
Provident funds were characterised in 1996 by a sharp decline in assets. The Taoz provident fund, managed by Bank Leumi, is the only one to have increased its assets (by 12%) in 1996. Leading the list of provident funds, as in 1995, is Bank Hapoalim’s Gadish, with assets of $3.7 billion.
Batucha is the leader in companies operating in the capital market, despite a 4.5% decrease in the volume of its investment portfolio. Ofek Securities rose to second place.