Aaron Katsman
IsraelNewsletter.com

With the 4th of July approaching, IOI would like to present a couple of Israeli stocks for your Independence day celebration. As you make the final preparations for your bar-b-que, after buying the hamburgers and the beer, you may consider doing some research and adding these 2 Israeli stocks to your shopping list.

Check Point Software Technologies (CHKP), which is the global leader in internet security, has started focusing on selling higher priced products. The company also just received an upgrade from Lehman Brothers.

According to the AP report: “Israel Hernandez said the Internet security software company is now selling higher-priced branded items and unveiling new products, and he added that demand will remain strong because security is a priority to Check Point’s customers. He said the Redwood City, Calif. company should report strong revenue growth in the next few quarters as it begins selling more appliances.”

He raised his price target to $30, which is more than 25% higher than the current price. We recently speculated as to the potential of Check Point takeover. Even Barron’s followed our lead, and wrote a similar piece. Some of our readers thought that we were spot on and some thought we were nuts. Vote here to let us know what you think.

Shares in ClickSoftware Technologies (CKSW) provider of workforce and service management software products and solutions, have been pounded over the last year.  While the company has had a couple of recent earnings misses, they still have the potential to achieve 20-25% revenue growth for ‘08, and recently reiterated their guidance. Keep in mind that this is a micro-cap stock so investors should be able to withstand the volatility associated with ClickSoftware. For investors looking for a Micro-cap turnaround story with a leading technology, you may want to do some research on ClickSoftware.

Happy 4th!

Disclosure: Author’s fund has a position in CHKP and CKSW. He has no position in any other stock mentioned as of 6/30/08.

Please see our Disclaimer HERE.

NEW! Introducing Israel Opportunity Investor, our monthly subscription-only newsletter. Stay ahead of the game and make smart decisions in Israel stocks. Go here to learn more.

Aaron Katsman is Managing Editor of the Israel Opportunity Investor newsletter. He is lead portfolio manager for the Israel Growth Portfolio and Managing Director of America Israel Investment Associates, LLC. For more information, go to www.israelnewsletter.com or call 1-888-327-6179, or email aaron@profile-financial.com.

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Aaron Katsman
IsraelNewsletter.com

While it sounds opportunistic, many investors think that the best time to invest is when there is ‘blood in the streets’. One industry that has been absolutely crushed is the oil refinery business. With prices of crude oil reaching record high levels daily, refiners are feeling the squeeze. That’s why it’s interesting that the Israeli refiner Delek US (DK) is reportedly looking to make acquisitions in the range of $1 billion.

According to a report in the Israeli daily, Globes,: “Delek US Holdings Inc.  notified the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Friday that it ‘is currently exploring the potential acquisition of certain petroleum refining, retail, and wholesale marketing assets in the US’ for $1 billion.”

The report continues: “US energy market sources believe that Delek US is seeking to buy a refinery in Oklahoma. Valero Energy Corporation (VLO) and Sonoco Products Company (SON) have both put up refineries for sale because of eroding profit margins.”

Shares in Delek have lost more than 65% over the last year. But you have to love their vision. They can get  another refinery at a huge discount, so they are buying it.  You have to believe that at some point the price of crude will drop. If it doesn’t, then all the refiners will probably go out of business anyway, so to me this deal makes a lot of sense. What do they have to lose?

Buy low and sell high. Over the long-term management may turn out to be real heroes. Instead of resting on their laurels through a bad market cycle they are looking for ways to enhance future shareholder value. Loading up on cheap assets when things are tough. If the price of crude starts to fall, look for shares in Delek to potentially power higher.

Disclosure: Author’s fund has a position in DK. He has no position in any other stock mentioned as of 6/29/08.

Please see our Disclaimer HERE.

NEW! Introducing Israel Opportunity Investor, our monthly subscription-only newsletter. Stay ahead of the game and make smart decisions in Israel stocks. Go here to learn more.

Aaron Katsman is Managing Editor of the Israel Opportunity Investor newsletter. He is lead portfolio manager for the Israel Growth Portfolio and Managing Director of America Israel Investment Associates, LLC. For more information, go to www.israelnewsletter.com or call 1-888-327-6179, or email aaron@profile-financial.com.

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Aaron Katsman
IsraelNewsletter.com

Common wisdom held that most global terrorism was caused by those people offended by the value system of the west as well as a hatred of Israel.  Now comes along Thomas Finger and dispels the myth. Apparently global warming is the cause of terrorism.

The Chairman of the National Intelligence Council spoke to Congress earlier this week. According to a CNN report he said, ” Climate change “will aggravate existing problems such as poverty, social tensions, environmental degradation, ineffectual leadership and weak political institutions. All of this threatens the domestic stability of a number of African, Asian, Central American and Central Asian countries.

People are likely to flee destabilized countries, and some may turn to terrorism.

The conditions exacerbated by the effects of climate change could increase the pool of potential recruits into terrorist activity.”

What a bunch of garbage. (Oops, bad choice of words, with all the landfill issues we face). Basically he is saying that due to economic hardship and political instability, people are going to start blowing themselves up and kill innocent people. Maybe he could give the human race a bit more credit. After all 30 years ago, when human destruction was threatened by an ice age, people didn’t flee to terrorism, and terrorists hijacked airplanes and killed Israeli Olympians in Munich, without knowledge of global warming. Correct me if I am wrong but doesn’t the world continually face poverty, social tensions and a lack of political leadership? Except for radical Islam and their Jihadists, we don’t see citizens who live  in countries with these issues, turn to terrorism. (Continue »)

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Aaron Katsman
IsraelNewsletter.com

The amazing 80’s group ABC once asked a question about financial planning. They asked, “Tell me! tell me! How to be a millionaire?” According to fresh data, the answer may just be to come live in Israel. There used to be a not so funny joke that went like this. ” How do you become a millionaire living in Israel? You come to Israel with $2 million!” Hah Hah! I told you it’s not such a funny joke.

According to the 12th annual World Wealth Report issued by Merrill Lynch and Capgemini, ” the number of the country’s millionaires grew by 13.6 percent in 2007, more than double the global millionaires’ growth rate of 6%, to a total of 8,200.”

That’s a pretty impressive growth rate, and the fact that it’s double the global growth rate speaks volumes as to the Israeli economic revival that has taken place over the last 5-6 years. The opportunities to  create wealth in Israel abound, whether in hi-tech, real estate or even in industry (Click here to see a great video on Investing in Israel) . And those opportunities are not lost on foreign investors. It would be an interesting to see how many foreigners have become millionaires or multi-millionaires by investing in Israel.  With the amount of foreign investment that has been flowing into Israel,  I suspect that that number must be pretty high as well.

If you are an investor and looking at new frontiers to invest, you need to take a serious look at investing in the holy land. If you are thinking about moving to Israel with an organization like Nefesh B’Nefesh, you should feel confident that there are plenty of economic opportunities, and that the old joke about coming with $2 million no longer applies.

Disclosure: Author’s fund has no position in any stock mentioned as of 6/26/08.

Please see our Disclaimer HERE.

NEW! Introducing Israel Opportunity Investor, our monthly subscription-only newsletter. Stay ahead of the game and make smart decisions in Israel stocks. Go here to learn more.

Aaron Katsman is Managing Editor of the Israel Opportunity Investor newsletter. He is lead portfolio manager for the Israel Growth Portfolio and Managing Director of America Israel Investment Associates, LLC. For more information, go to www.israelnewsletter.com or call 1-888-327-6179, or email aaron@profile-financial.com.

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