not everywhere· Economy· Updated 12:05

Dollar Hits 18-Month Global High, Reaches 3.1 Shekels Amid Inflation Fears

The U.S. dollar reached 3.1 shekels on Thursday, October 15, 2026, marking its highest level against the Israeli currency since April 8. The surge followed the release of stronger-than-expected U.S. inflation data for September, which was driven by rising fuel costs.

4 newsrooms · 2 languages · since 07:33

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Dollar Hits 18-Month Global High, Reaches 3.1 Shekels Amid Inflation Fears — Illustration by baba

What happened

01The U.S. dollar reached 3.1 shekels on Thursday, October 15, 2026, its highest level against the Israeli currency since April 8.
02Stronger-than-expected U.S. inflation data for September, driven by rising fuel costs, fueled the dollar's surge.
03The global dollar index climbed 0.38% to an 18-month high of 102.57 points against major currencies.
04Traders now price in a 67% chance that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged in late October.
05The euro fell 0.44% to a 17-month low of $1.1149 against the dollar amid French fiscal concerns.
06Asian tech stocks dropped significantly, with SK Hynix falling 11% and Samsung and SoftBank each declining 10%.
07The strengthening dollar is expected to raise import costs for Israeli consumers and increase revenue conversion for exporters.

The rise in U.S. consumer prices has revived market expectations of a potential Federal Reserve interest rate hike. Traders now estimate a 67% chance that the Federal Reserve will hold interest rates steady at its meeting on October 27-28, compared to 53% a month ago. The stronger dollar is expected to increase import costs for Israeli consumers while benefiting Israeli exporters.

Globally, the dollar index rose 0.38% to 102.57 points, hitting an 18-month high against major currencies. Meanwhile, the euro fell 0.44% to a 17-month low of $1.1149 due to rising oil prices and concerns over France's fiscal health, though it remained stable against the shekel at 3.44 shekels. The inflation fears also impacted Asian stock markets, causing significant drops in tech stocks such as SK Hynix, Samsung, and SoftBank.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated 11:36

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