Israel gains for third day; Teva higher before results

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange's benchmark TA-25 Index closed 0.9% higher at 823.73, while the TA-100 Index (XX:1884407: news , chart , profile ) rose 0.9% to 755.04.

The Tel-Tech 15 Index of top technology issues did better still, advancing 1.6% to finish at 179.21.

The issue traded most actively was Israel Chemicals, shares of which added 2.4%. Agrichemicals specialist Makhteshim-Agan saw its shares jump 5.3%.

As for Teva (TEVA:

44.45, +0.29, +0.7%) , shares rose 1.2%. A survey of analysts by FactSet Research produced consensus estimates of 69 cents a share for profit and $3.42 billion for sales.

Meanwhile, shares of Bank Leumi slipped 0.4%.

In an afternoon note, Leader Capital Markets said the decline came on reports that the private-equity firms Gabriel and Cerberus "have extended their deadline for receiving bids for their 9.8% stake after receiving just one buyer-submitted bid." That bid, from real estate developer David Azrieli, stands at 10.5 shekels a share, Leader said.

Among the other Tel Aviv-traded banks, Hapoalim (BKHYY:

11.05, +2.00,+22.1%) fell 0 3% while Discount rose 0 4% and Mizrahi Tefahot (UMZRF:

, , )added 0.3%.

Another notable gainer among the blue chips was Ormat Industries, the turbine manufacturer and parent of Ormat Technologies (ORA:

36.52, +1.13, +3.2%) , the producer of geothermal power plants.

Shares of Ormat Industries rose 4.5%, while real estate developer Africa-Israel (AFIVY:

7.60, +4.05, +114.1%) gained 3.9% and holding company Israel Corp. added 3.1%.

Decliners included Oil Refineries Ltd., down 3.4%, as well as investment firm Harel, down 3%, and foods producer Strauss (SGLJF:

, , ) , down 2.5%.

In technology, shares of tech-investment manager Formula Systems (FORTY:

6.10, +0.58, +10.6%) leaped 10%, while Alvarion Ltd. (ALVR:

3.17, +0.09,+2.9%) , supplier of wireless broadband technology, added 4%.

The lone loser within the Tel-Tech 15 benchmark was Gilat Satellite Networks (GILT:

3.68, -0.04, -1.2%) , the producer of satellite-based communications networks. Gilat's shares gave up 1%.