The Israeli shekel reached a new record-low against the US dollar today: $1 = NIS 4.473. Finance Ministry Director-General Ohad Marani said that he is not worried, and is even satisfied, with the rapidly rising exchange rate. Economists are saying that the new exchange rates are a more accurate reflection of the true value of the shekel.



In other economic news, Finance Minister Silvan Shalom said yesterday that there is a chance that the 2002 state budget will be presented to the Knesset for its second and third readings within the next two weeks.