While Israeli financial institutions continued to sell dollars, strengthening the shekel, importers spotted an opportunity. Especially in the second quarter, the business sector, particularly importers, exploited the low shekel-dollar rate, which went as low as NIS 2.8/$," Zabezhinsky says. "They bought a great deal of foreign currency cheaply, whether for raw materials or for investment or for finished products at lower prices. Another factor in the foreign currency equation is the behavior of foreign investors, but they have not exhibited unusual activity in recent months. When the local stock market performs well or there’s activity by the financial institutions, that’s a financial story.