Swiss government says VAT on food and medicines will remain unchanged.

Israel’s election in two months could unseat the Netanyahu-led religious-right government, but Palestinian Authority minister for foreign and diaspora affairs Varsen Shahin said peace requires a fundamental change in West Bank policy, warning that replacing leaders without policy shift will not resolve issues. Deteriorating security in the West Bank, expanding Israeli control and the devastation in Gaza are eroding prospects for a Palestinian state. Major countries seeking to isolate the Netanyahu government are stepping up recognition of an independent Palestinian state that would coexist with Israel.

英國兩年期國債收益率當日下跌超過8個基點，至4.274%，爲8月7日以來最低水平。