• In the fourth quarter of 2017, the balance of assets held by Israeli residents abroad increased by about $13.5 billion (about 3.2 percent). The prices of foreign shares held by Israelis increased, and the balance of outstanding commercial credit and loans grew.
  • Outstanding liabilities to abroad increased by approximately $6.8 billion (2.4 percent). Net direct investments by nonresidents in Israeli share capital were partly offset by a decline in outstanding financial loans issued by nonresidents to Israelis.
  • The ratio of gross external debt to GDP declined during the course of the fourth quarter, to 25 percent at the end of December—reflecting a decline in the balance of gross external debt together with an increase in GDP.
  • Israel’s surplus of assets over liabilities vis-à-vis abroad increased in the fourth quarter by approximately $6.7 billion, to about $142 billion at the end of December, mainly as a result of an increase in prices of foreign stocks held by Israeli residents, alongside a decline the balance of other assets held in Israel by nonresidents.
  • The surplus of assets over liabilities vis-à-vis abroad in debt instruments alone (negative net external debt) increased in the fourth quarter by about $10.9 billion (7.3 percent), to about $162 billion at the end of December.

 

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