Shekel volatility after US tariffs announcement

After yesterday’s bombshell announcement by US President Donald Trump on US import tariffs, the foreign exchange market is risky right now. In afternoon inter-bank buying and selling the shekel is strengthening in opposition to the US greenback and sharply weakening in opposition to the euro. The shekel-US greenback alternate fee is down 0.19% at NIS 3.702/$, and the shekel-euro fee is up 1.95%, at NIS 4.093/€. The shekel is at its weakest in opposition to the euro in 5 months.

Yesterday, the Financial institution of Israel set the consultant shekel-dollar fee down 0.162% from Tuesday, at NIS 3.699/$, and the consultant shekel-euro fee was set 0.08% decrease at NIS 3.992/€.

Why has the shekel weakened sharply in opposition to the euro?

The euro is reacting with a pointy acquire in opposition to the Israeli foreign money. The rationale for that is the consequences of the assorted alternate fee adjustments. The shekel shouldn’t be traded instantly in opposition to the euro, however is transformed on the dollar-shekel fee after which on the dollar-euro fee. Thus, when the greenback depreciates sharply in opposition to the EU foreign money. Israel additionally sees the consequences of the devaluation. Actually, the largest beneficiary of the worldwide mess is the euro. The euro-dollar fee reached $1.09 per euro, the greenback’s lowest since October. “Reuters” famous that the euro is strengthening as a result of it appears that evidently Europe is trying extra inward, “Europeans proceed to look at how you can stabilize the economic system and proceed development and will not be coping with reciprocal tariffs. The market likes the calm and settled strategy on the continent.”

Trying forward

The query that now arises is what is going to occur after the worldwide storm calms down, and the way the heavy tariffs will have an effect on the worldwide economic system. Financial institution Hapoalim chief monetary markets strategist Modi Shafrir notes that a lot depends upon future developments. “There’s a worry that Europe and different international locations will impose reciprocal tariffs on the US. In distinction, international locations like Israel will probably scale back their taxes on the US.” Shafrir stresses that the present state of affairs shouldn’t be wholesome for the worldwide economic system and is rising ranges of uncertainty on the planet. Within the meantime, buyers are fleeing to safer investments. Gold is buying and selling at document ranges at greater than $3,100 per ounce. Additionally, prior to now 24 hours, authorities bond yields have fallen sharply, whereas buyers are turning to risk-free belongings.

Revealed by Globes, Israel enterprise information – en.globes.co.il – on April 4, 2025.

© Copyright of Globes Writer Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2025.