According to a survey conducted by the Israeli Diamond Industry Portal among capital-market analysts and investment houses, the Israeli economy will shake off the recession in 2010, but more layoffs are to be expected. 87 percent of the interviewed analysts and investment managers said the recession would end in 2010, but 74 percent believe that the wave of layoffs is not yet over. The survey was conducted on a sample group of 50 analysts and 50 investment houses and banks.

When asked when the recession will end, 53 percent of the respondents said the recession would end in the first half of next year, while 34 percent believe it will come to an end in the second half of 2010. 61 percent expressed optimism about the state of the Israeli capital market, while 34 percent were pessimistic. According to the analysts’ predictions, the Tel Aviv-100 Index is estimated to rise by 10.4 percent by the end of the year.