Israel

Israel scores highly in our new risk rating system, with 73.1 in the short term category and 80.3 in the long term category. In the short term, the rating is boosted by broad policy... 2007-05-04

BMI View: We are unconcerned by the current crisis, as our new political risk ratings demonstrate.

BMI View: Comments from the Bank of Israel suggest more rate cuts are on the horizon, but we are sceptical about its capacity to weaken the shekel without intervening in the forex... 2007-04-23

BMI View: We believe that Israel may come under some pressure to moderate its foreign policy stance over the coming couple of years, particularly if the US warms to the idea of talks... 2007-03-30

We now see a strong possibility that parliamentary elections will be held within the year, with Likud the most likely beneficiary. An Angus Reid poll taken on March 12 found that... 2007-03-30

We have revised up our growth forecasts, on the back of another stellar performance in 2006, and now envisage full-year growth of 4.8% for 2007, compared with our previous projection... 2007-03-30

BMI View: We are forecasting ongoing robust growth in real GDP, on the back of strong investment and exports

BMI View: The current account will remain very robust, with surpluses projected throughout the forecast

We have revised our 2007 budget deficit target down to 1.1% of GDP, from 1.6% of GDP previously, after the 2006 data surprised on the favourable side, showing a deficit of just ILS5.5bn... 2007-03-06

Latest opinion polls conducted by Angus Reid and Yediot Ahronot show little real change in the trends we have been monitoring for some months: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Likud party... 2007-03-06