Combined value of Israel's top 100 companies grows 20 percent in 2005

According to a recent report by Dunn & Bradstreet, the combined value of Israel's top 100 companies grew 20 percent to $100 billion in the first nine months of 2005, with Teva once again heading the list of the most financially sound companies in the country, THE JERUSALEM POST reported. Teva was followed by Bank Hapoalim, Israel Electric Corporation, Israel Chemicals and Bank Leumi, respectively, in the top five rankings. Israel Corporation took sixth place, while Oil Refineries (Bazan), Amdocs, Bezeq and IDB Development Corp. completed the top 10 list."The majority of holding companies are publicly traded and owe their growth to the continued positive trend in the capital markets, said Reuven Kuvent, general manager, Dunn & Bradstreet Israel. "Real estate companies are enjoying a reawakening in the market and their performance was boosted by increased participation of Israeli firms in the international market.”