"British investors have tended to ignore Israel, but its stock market will be thrust into the limelight this year when it is promoted from emerging to developed market status." This is referring to the fact that Israel is up for OECD membership, and if accepted -- and it looks like it will happen -- Israel will join the prestigious organization and be considered a "developed country."
Some pundits have argued that admission into the OECD will actually hurt Israeli stocks as Israel is about 2% of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index, and its share in the global investment pie would fall to 0.2% if Israel is admitted to the developed markets index. What they neglect to mention is that there is a heck of a lot more money under management in developed markets than in emerging markets. So Israel's weighting may drop, but the amount of money available to invest will be substantially more. In addition, don't forget "overweighting." If fund managers believe Israel is an attractive investment destination, then they can overweight their position to a much higher level than 0.2%.
Look out for Israeli stocks in '08.
Aaron Katsman is the lead Portfolio Manager and Managing Director of America Israel Investment Associates, LLC. and Senior Editor of IsraelNewsletter.com. Disclosure: Writer has no position long or short in any stock mentioned as of 1/7/08.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-07-2008 @ 2:15PM
charlie said...
Well heck yea the israeli economy is doing fine. We give them all our military secrets and very latest technology which they repackage and sell to China, india and most anyone else.
The american taxpayers pays atl least $ 30,000 per israeli per year in various grants and "guaranteed loans" They are the largest recipient of " aid" sent over seas.
The Israeli military industrial complex competes with our companies for military equiptment sales in the billions of dollars, the only thing is they get the technology for free and resell it.
Thanks to the israeli lobby our leaders have to swear allegiance to a foregion country in order to get elected.
1-07-2008 @ 2:40PM
Sheldon L said...
Actually Charlie,
We give Israel a lot of financial support, no doubt about that. However, the advanced technology goes both ways. Israel actually has more advanced technolgy than the US in many areas and shares it with us. UAV's are one example, fighter jet enhancements are another. They have superior knowledge about fighting desert wars and the US actually has used Israel to test many technologies in combat situations
Non military technology includes water reclamation and irrigation, advanced medical research and products and they developed several of Intel's more advanced processors although that is commercial and paid for.
It is not a one way street.
1-26-2008 @ 3:59PM
Carol Dickinson said...
I agree with you Sheldon 100%. I heard on the news yesterday that Israel is in the lead on finding a cure of cancer. The Jewish people are very smart. I believe they are blessed by God to have so much knowledge, wisdom and inventive ideas and cures. We should be thanking them! I am glad we support Israel. The Bible says that those who bless Israel will be blessed... but those who curse it will be cursed. Well... that kinda says it all right there.