Overview

• The sovereign wealth fund will exclude another six companies connected to activities in the West Bank and Gaza, with names to be disclosed once divestments are completed.
• The step follows last week’s sale of stakes in 11 Israeli firms and the termination of all Israel-based external asset manager contracts as mandates shift in-house.
• As of August 14, the fund held 19 billion Norwegian crowns in 38 Israel-listed companies, a reduction of 23 holdings since June 30 under a tightened investment approach.
• Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg said more exclusions could follow and announced faster information-sharing between Norges Bank Investment Management and the Ethics Council.
• Reuters reported that Israel’s five largest banks remain under ethics review, while analysts and campaigners split on the move’s impact, with BDS praising it and economists expecting limited short-term economic effects.