Israel's Shekel and Bonds Slide as Gaza Ceasefire Buckles

New Israeli Shekel banknotes are seen in this picture illustration taken November 9, 2021. REUTERS/Nir Elias/Illustration/File photo
New Israeli Shekel banknotes are seen in this picture illustration taken November 9, 2021. REUTERS/Nir Elias/Illustration/File photo
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Israel's Shekel and Bonds Slide as Gaza Ceasefire Buckles

New Israeli Shekel banknotes are seen in this picture illustration taken November 9, 2021. REUTERS/Nir Elias/Illustration/File photo
New Israeli Shekel banknotes are seen in this picture illustration taken November 9, 2021. REUTERS/Nir Elias/Illustration/File photo

Israel's currency fell alongside its bonds and stock market on Tuesday as a wave of deadly airstrikes by its military in Gaza threatened the complete collapse of an already fragile two-month ceasefire with Hamas.

Concerns about both the humanitarian and economic costs of a return to intense fighting spiked as Israel's resumption of bombing of Gaza, which it said was a "preemptive offensive" to try to force the release of its remaining hostages, prompted anger from Hamas.

Israel's shekel dropped as much as half a percent against both the dollar and euro, while many of its government bonds, which suffered a wave of rating downgrades last year due to the war, had their biggest falls in over a month, Reuters reported.

Ronen Menachem, chief markets economist at Mizrahi Tefahot Bank, said a resumption in the conflict could see further falls in the shekel and a renewed rise in Israel’s bond market risk premium.

"The market will react based on whether this is perceived as a defined and limited operation or the opening of a broader campaign," he said.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed the military to take Tuesday's "strong action" in response to Hamas's refusal to release the remaining 59 hostages it holds following its October 7, 2023 attacks and its rejection of other ceasefire proposals.

The Palestinian militant group accused Netanyahu of breaching the ceasefire deal and jeopardizing efforts by mediators to secure a permanent truce.

Negotiating teams from Israel and Hamas had been in Doha as mediators from Egypt and Qatar sought to bridge the gap between the two sides after the end of an initial phase in the ceasefire, in which 33 Israeli hostages and five Thais were released in exchange for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.



Russian Rouble Weakens After Trump-Putin Call 

A woman walks outside the Kremlin on a sunny day in Moscow, Russia, 18 March 2025. (EPA)
A woman walks outside the Kremlin on a sunny day in Moscow, Russia, 18 March 2025. (EPA)
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Russian Rouble Weakens After Trump-Putin Call 

A woman walks outside the Kremlin on a sunny day in Moscow, Russia, 18 March 2025. (EPA)
A woman walks outside the Kremlin on a sunny day in Moscow, Russia, 18 March 2025. (EPA)

The Russian rouble interrupted its rally and weakened against both the US dollar and China's yuan on Wednesday following a conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that focused on the war in Ukraine.

In the telephone call, Putin agreed to stop attacking Ukrainian energy facilities temporarily but declined to endorse a full 30-day ceasefire that Trump had hoped would be the first step toward a permanent peace deal.

By 0840 GMT, the rouble was down 1.3% at 82.80 against the dollar in the over-the-counter market. Against the Chinese yuan, the rouble was down 1.2% at 11.36 in trade on the Moscow Stock Exchange (MOEX).

The Russian currency hit its strongest levels against both the dollar and the yuan since June 2024 this week. It is up 27% against the dollar so far this year on expectations of easing tensions between Russia and the United States.

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday that a return of foreign investors to the Russian market and resulting capital inflows played a role in the rouble rally.

"We are also observing an inflow of foreign capital into the domestic market, taking into account the geopolitical situation," Novak was quoted in the Russian media as saying.

The stronger rouble is helping the central bank fight inflation, its main headache. However, it is also dealing a blow to exporting companies as well as state budget revenues, which depend heavily on oil and gas exports that are traded in dollars.

Denis Popov from PSB bank noted that Novak's statement was the first official confirmation of capital inflows taking place as international investors begin to eye Russian assets again, creating the potential for further strengthening of the rouble.

"Considering that the end of March should see an increase in currency sales by exporters, the risks of further strengthening of the rouble are very high," Popov said.