• In the third quarter of 2019, the balance of assets held abroad by Israeli residents increased by about $3.7 billion (0.8 percent) to about $470 billion at the end of September. The increase derived from the flow of direct investments abroad by Israelis, investments in the securities portfolio abroad, and an increase in the prices of foreign securities held by Israelis.
 
  • Outstanding liabilities to abroad increased by approximately $0.3 billion (0.1 percent) in the third quarter, to about $320 billion at the end of September. Most of the increase derived from the flow of direct investments in Israel by nonresidents and by investments in the securities portfolio (mostly bonds). These investments were partly offset by realizations of other investments and declines in the prices of Israeli equities held by nonresidents.
 
  • Israel’s surplus of assets over liabilities vis-à-vis abroad increased by approximately $3.4 billion (2.3 percent) in the third quarter, to about $150 billion at the end of September, as a result of an increase in outstanding assets that was greater than the increase in outstanding liabilities.
 
  • The surplus of assets over liabilities vis-à-vis abroad in debt instruments alone (negative net external debt) decreased by $1.5 billion (0.9 percent) during the third quarter, to about approximately $162 billion at the end of September.
 
  • The ratio of gross external debt to GDP declined by about 0.4 percentage points during the course of the third quarter, to 25.6 percent at the end of September. The decline in the debt to GDP ratio reflected a rate of increase in the balance of gross external debt that was smaller than the rate of increase in GDP.


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