Tel Aviv stocks gain 2% after Israel's pre-emptive strike on Hezbollah

Share gains were also helped by growing expectations of US interest rate cuts, said Yuval Tzuk, an economist in the bourse's research department.

MARKET DATA at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.  (photo credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS)
MARKET DATA at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
(photo credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS)

Key Tel Aviv share indices closed about 2% higher on Sunday, with the blue-chip index touching a record high, after an Israeli pre-emptive strike against Hezbollah curbed a potential rocket barrage by the group against key targets in Israel.

The blue-chip Tel Aviv 35 index ended 2% higher at 2091.6 points, after hitting an intraday peak of 2091.91, while the broader TA-125 rose 2.1%.

"The trading day began after the publication of the extensive pre-emptive strike launched by the Air Force early in the morning, which prevented the launch of missiles towards strategic targets in Israel," said Yuval Tzuk, an economist in the bourse's research department.

He said share gains were also helped by growing expectations of US interest rate cuts.

Israel's pre-emptive attack

Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel early on Sunday, as Israel's military said it struck Lebanon with around 100 jets to thwart a larger attack, in one of the biggest clashes in more than 10 months of border warfare.

 An explosion takes place as Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Zibqin, Lebanon, August 25, 2024, in this still image obtained from a video. (credit: REUTERS)
An explosion takes place as Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Zibqin, Lebanon, August 25, 2024, in this still image obtained from a video. (credit: REUTERS)

Israel's foreign minister said the country did not seek a full-scale war, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned: "This is not the end of the story."