6-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report: August 5, 2008
Commission File No.: 000-30688

NOVA MEASURING INSTRUMENTS LTD.

Building 22 Weizmann Science Park, Rehovot
P.O.B 266
Israel

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or
Form 40-F:

Form 20-F x Form 40-F o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is submitting this Form 6-K in paper as permitted by
Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also
thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934:

Yes o No x

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with 12g3-2(b):

N/A.

        Attached hereto and incorporated by way of reference herein is a press release issued by the Registrant on, and dated, August 5, 2008, and entitled “Nova Announces 2008 Second Quarter Results”.

        This report on Form 6-K is hereby incorporated by reference into Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd.‘s registration statements on Form S-8, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the following dates: September 13, 2000 (File No. 333-12546); March 5, 2002 (File No. 333-83734); December 24, 2002 (File No. 333-102193, as amended by Amendment No. 1, filed on January 5, 2006); March 24, 2003 (File No. 333-103981); May 17, 2004 (three files, File Nos. 333-115554, 333-115555, and 333-115556, as amended by Amendment No. 1, filed on January 5, 2006); March 7, 2005 (File No. 333-123158); December 29, 2005 (File No. 333-130745); September 21, 2006 (File No. 333-137491); and November 5, 2007 (File No. 333-147140) and into Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd.‘s registration statement on Form F-3, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2007 (File No. 333-142834).



Signatures

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

NOVA MEASURING INSTRUMENTS LTD.
(the "Registrant")

By: /s/ Dror David
——————————————
Dror David
Chief Financial Officer

Date: August 5, 2008





Company Contact: Investor relations Contacts:
Dror David, Chief Financial Officer Ehud Helft / Kenny Green
Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. GK Investor Relations
Tel: 972-8-938-7505 Tel: +1-646-201-9246
E-mail: info@nova.co.il E-mail: info@gkir.com
http://www.nova.co.il

Company Press Release

NOVA ANNOUNCES 2008 SECOND QUARTER RESULTS

Rehovot, Israel – August 5, 2008 – Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. (Nasdaq: NVMI), provider of leading edge stand alone metrology and the market leader of integrated metrology solutions to the semiconductor process control market, today reported its 2008 second quarter financial results.

Highlights for the Second Quarter of 2008

  Total revenues of $11.1 million

  Gross margin of 39%; Improvement in services gross margins

  Non-GAAP net loss of $0.5 million, or $0.02 per share; GAAP net loss of $1.3 million, or $0.07 per share (including $0.6 million final non-cash impairment charge related to Hypernex acquisition)

  Final acceptance of Stand Alone Optical CD systems at two different Fabs in the Asia Pacific region

  Placement of additional two Stand Alone Optical CD evaluation systems in the Asia Pacific and Japan regions

2008 Second Quarter Results

Total revenues for the second quarter of 2008 were $11.1 million, a decrease of 25% relative to the second quarter of 2007, and a decrease of 13% relative to the first quarter of 2008.

Gross margin for the second quarter of 2008 was 39%, compared with 46% in the second quarter of 2007, and compared with 40% in the first quarter of 2008. Gross margins declined mainly as a result of the lower product revenues.

Operating expenses in the second quarter of 2008 were $5.7 million, compared with $5.9 million in the second quarter of 2007, and $5.3 million in the first quarter of 2008. Operating expenses for the second quarter of 2008 included $0.6 million final non-cash impairment charge related to its Hypernex acquisition.



On a GAAP basis, the company reported $1.3 million net loss in the second quarter of 2008, or $0.07 per share. This compares to a net income of $1.1 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2007, and breakeven results for the first quarter of 2008.

On a non-GAAP basis, which excludes stock-based compensation, amortization of intangibles and impairment charges, the company reported net loss of $0.5 million, or $0.02 per share, for the second quarter of 2008. This compares with a non-GAAP net income of $1.4 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2007, and a non-GAAP net income of $0.2 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2008.

The company generated $1.6 million in positive cash flow from operating activities during the second quarter of 2008, and total cash reserves at the end of the second quarter of 2008 increased to $21.5 million.

Management Comments

“In view of the downturn being experienced by our industry, our on going cost control measures continued to prove their effectiveness in the current quarter”, said Gabi Seligsohn, President and CEO of Nova. “We are continuing to make progress with our penetration of the Stand Alone Optical CD market. During the quarter we concluded successful stand alone evaluations at two different Fabs, and we are now beginning to recognize revenues from the sales of these systems. In parallel to this success, proving the strong capabilities and the growing interest for our stand alone metrology products, we placed new evaluation systems at two additional customer sites.”

“Although the current weak market conditions appear likely to persist until the end of the year, we are taking advantage and enhancing our market position by developing new applications and penetrating new customers. We believe that our strong execution and tight cost controls, combined with our solid progress in the Stand Alone Optical CD area, will help us to outperform the industry, and emerge from the downturn a stronger Company, with improved revenue mix and customer presence, and a broader suite of products and applications.”

The Company will host a conference call today, August 5, 2008, at 11:00am ET. To participate, please dial in the US: 1-866-345-5855; or internationally: +972 3 918 0610. A recording of the call will be available on Nova’s website, within 24 hours following the end of the call.

In addition, the conference call will also be webcast live from a link on Nova’s website at www.nova.co.il.



This press release provides financial measures that exclude non-cash charges for inventory write-off, stock-based compensation and impairment charges and are therefore not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding Nova’s performance because they reflect our operational results and enhances management’s and investors’ ability to evaluate Nova’s performance before charges considered by management to be outside Nova’s ongoing operating results.

The presentation of this non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that it is in the best interest of its investors to provide financial information that will facilitate comparison of both historical and future results and allows greater transparency to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A reconciliation of each GAAP to non-GAAP financial measure discussed in this press release is contained in the accompanying financial tables.

About Nova
Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. develops, produces and markets advanced integrated and stand alone metrology solutions for the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Nova is traded on the NASDAQ & TASE under the symbol NVMI. The Company’s website is www.nova.co.il.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to future events or our future performance, such as statements regarding trends, demand for our products, expected deliveries, transaction, expected revenues, operating results, earnings and profitability. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements.  These risks and other factors include but are not limited to: our dependency on a single integrated process control product line; the highly cyclical nature of the markets we target; our inability to reduce spending during a slowdown in the semiconductor industry; our ability to respond effectively on a timely basis to rapid technological changes; risks associated with our dependence on a single manufacturing facility; our ability to expand our manufacturing capacity or marketing efforts to support our future growth; our dependency on a small number of large customers and small number of suppliers; risks related to our intellectual property; changes in customer demands for our products; new product offerings from our competitors; changes in or an inability to execute our business strategy; unanticipated manufacturing or supply problems; changes in tax requirements; changes in customer demand for our products; risks related to currency fluctuations and risks related to our operations in Israel.  We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties summarized under the heading “Risk Factors” in Nova’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2008, as amended.  These factors are updated from time to time through the filing of reports and registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

(Tables to Follow)



NOVA MEASURING INSTRUMENTS LTD.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

As of
June 30,

As of
December 31,

2008
2007
 
CURRENT ASSETS            
   Cash and cash equivalents    13,744    15,324  
   Short-term interest bearing bank deposits    72    -  
   Held to maturity securities    5,844    2,251  
   Trade accounts receivable    5,040    9,146  
   Inventories    9,473    8,524  
   Other current assets    1,905    1,703  


     36,078    36,948  


LONG-TERM ASSETS  
   Long-term interest-bearing bank deposits    611    2,245  
   Long-term investments    1,240    1,562  
   Held to maturity securities    -    1,489  
   Other Long-term assets    169    169  
   Severance pay funds    2,719    2,488  


     4,739    7,953  


   
   FIXED ASSETS, NET    3,091    3,484  


   
      Total assets    43,908    48,385  


   
CURRENT LIABILITIES  
   Trade accounts payable    4,410    7,482  
   Deferred income    1,908    1,496  
   Other current liabilities    6,289    7,310  


     12,607    16,288  


   
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES  
   Liability for employee severance pay    3,836    3,561  
   Deferred income    1,042    901  
   Other long-term liability    56    51  


     4,934    4,513  


   
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY    26,367    27,584  


   
         Total liabilities and shareholders' equity    43,908    48,385  





NOVA MEASURING INSTRUMENTS LTD.
QUARTERLY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Q2-2008
Q1-2008
Q2-2007
 
REVENUES                
    Product sales    7,496    9,614    12,128  
    Services    3,594    3,197    2,682  



     11,090    12,811    14,810  



   
COST OF REVENUES   
    Product sales    3,524    4,488    5,522  
    Services    3,250    3,157    2,547  



     6,774    7,645    8,069  



   
GROSS PROFIT     4,316    5,166    6,741  



   
OPERATING EXPENSES   
    Research & Development expenses, net    2,177    1,905    2,203  
    Sales & Marketing expenses    2,042    2,440    2,528  
    General & Administration expenses    797    904    1,159  
    Impairment loss on equipment related to Hypernex  
    assets and liabilities acquisition    633    -    -  



     5,649    5,249    5,890  



   
       OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)     (1,333 )  (83 )  851  
   
INTEREST INCOME, NET     66    124    220  



   
       NET INCOME (LOSS) FOR THE PERIOD     (1,267 )  41    1,071  



   
    Net income (loss) per share:  
         Basic    (0.07 )  0.00    0.06  



         Diluted         0.00    0.05  


   
    Shares used for calculation of net income (loss) per  
    share:  
         Basic    19,378    19,338    18,904  



         Diluted         19,541    19,652  





NOVA MEASURING INSTRUMENTS LTD.
YEAR TO DATE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Six-months ended
June 30, 2008
June 30, 2007
 
REVENUES            
    Product sales    17,110    22,571  
    Services    6,791    5,606  


     23,901    28,177  


   
COST OF REVENUES   
    Product sales    8,012    10,390  
    Services    6,407    5,213  


     14,419    15,603  


   
GROSS PROFIT     9,482    12,574  


   
OPERATING EXPENSES   
    Research & Development expenses, net    4,082    4,536  
    Sales & Marketing expenses    4,482    4,726  
    General & Administration expenses    1,701    3,271  
    Impairment loss on equipment related to Hypernex assets and  
    liabilities acquisition    633    -  


     10,898    12,533  


   
       OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)     (1,416 )  41  
   
INTEREST INCOME, NET     190    389  


   
       NET INCOME (LOSS) FOR THE PERIOD     (1,226 )  430  


   
    Net income (loss) per share:  
         Basic    (0.06 )  0.02  


         Diluted         0.02  

   
    Shares used for calculation of net income (loss) per share:  
         Basic    19,356    18,072  


         Diluted         18,784  




NOVA MEASURING INSTRUMENTS LTD.
QUARTERLY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

Three months ended
June 30,
March 31,
June 30,
2008
2008
2007
 
CASH FLOW - OPERATING ACTIVITIES                
   
    Net income (loss) for the period    (1,267 )  41    1,071  
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash  
    used in operating activities:  
   
         Depreciation and amortization    315    365    455  
         Amortization of deferred stock-based  
         compensation    155    164    259  
         Increase in liability for employee termination benefits, net    68    59    67  
         Impairment loss on equipment    633    -    -  
   
         Net recognized losses (gains) on investments    2    12    (57 )
         Decrease in trade accounts receivables    3,331    775    67  
         Decrease (increase) in inventories    228    (1,360 )  (239 )
         Decrease (increase) in other current and long term assets    758    (865 )  (181 )
         Decrease in trade accounts payables and other long term liabilities    (2,415 )  (652 )  (1,158 )
         Decrease in current liabilities    (974 )  (225 )  (4,815 )
         Increase (decrease) in short and long term deferred income    722    (169 )  3,404  



    Net cash from (used in) operating activities       1,557     (1,854 )   (1,127 )



   
CASH FLOW - INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES   
   
    Decrease (increase) in short-term interest-bearing bank deposits    (72 )  -    66  
    Increase in short-term investments    -    -    (2,177 )
    Proceeds from held to maturity securities    11,068    2,205    1,574  
    Proceeds from long-term deposits    696    938    498  
    Investment in held to maturity securities    (9,654 )  (5,736 )  (485 )
    Additions to fixed assets    (183 )  (557 )  (149 )



    Net cash from (used in) investment activities       1,855     (3,150 )   (673 )



   
CASH FLOW - FINANCING ACTIVITIES   
   
    Shares issued under employee share-based plans    -    12    397  



    Net cash from financing activities       -     12     397  



   
    Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents       3,412     (4,992 )   (1,403 )
    Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period       10,332     15,324     7,657  



    Cash and cash equivalents - end of period       13,744     10,332     6,254  






NOVA MEASURING INSTRUMENTS LTD.
YEAR TO DATE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(U.S. dollars in thousands)

Six months ended
June 30, 2008
June 30, 2007
 
CASH FLOW - OPERATING ACTIVITIES            
   
    Net income (loss) for the period    (1,226 )  430  
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash  
    used in operating activities:  
   
         Depreciation and amortization    682    892  
         Amortization of deferred stock-based compensation    319    523  
         Increase in liability for employee termination benefits, net    127    71  
         Impairment loss on equipment    633    -  
   
         Net recognized losses (gains) on investments    13    (116 )
         Decrease in trade accounts receivables    4,106    1,523  
         Increase in inventories    (1,131 )  (798 )
         Decrease (increase) in other current and long term assets    (107 )  71  
         Decrease in trade accounts payables and other long term liabilities    (3,067 )  (1,330 )
         Decrease in current liabilities    (1,199 )  (4,749 )
         Increase in short and long term deferred income    553    3,321  


    Net cash used in operating activities       (297 )   (162 )


   
CASH FLOW - INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES   
   
    Decrease (increase) in short-term interest-bearing bank deposits    (72 )  349  
    Increase in short-term investments    -    (4,777 )
    Proceeds from held to maturity securities    13,273    2,425  
    Proceeds from long-term deposits    1,634    1,005  
    Investment in held to maturity securities    (15,390 )  (1,981 )
    Additions to fixed assets    (739 )  (250 )


    Net cash used in investment activities       (1,295 )   (3,229 )


   
CASH FLOW - FINANCING ACTIVITIES   
   
    Shares issued in private placement    -    4,982  
    Shares issued under employee share-based plans    12    487  


    Net cash from financing activities       12     5,469  


   
    Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents       (1,580 )   2,078  
    Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period       15,324     4,176  


    Cash and cash equivalents - end of period       13,744     6,254  





NOVA MEASURING INSTRUMENTS LTD.
DISCLOSURE OF NON-GAAP NET INCOME (LOSS)

(U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Three months ended
June 30,
March 31,
June 30,
2008
2008
2007
 
GAAP Net income (loss) for the quarter      (1,267 )  41    1,071  
   
Non-GAAP Adjustments:   
    Stock based compensation expenses    155    164    259  
    Amortization of intangible assets    -    -    109  
    Impairment loss on equipment related to Hypernex  
    assets and liabilities acquisition    633    -    -  



   
Non-GAAP Net income (loss) for the quarter     (479 )  205    1,439  



   
    Non-GAAP net income (loss) per share:  
         Basic    (0.02 )  0.01    0.08  



         Diluted         0.01    0.07  


   
    Shares used for calculation of non-GAAP net income  
    (loss) per share:  
         Basic    19,378    19,338    18,904  



         Diluted         19,541    19,652  



Six months ended
June 30,
June 30,
2008
2007
 
GAAP Net income (loss) for the quarter      (1,226 )  430  
   
Non-GAAP Adjustments:   
    Stock based compensation expenses    319    523  
    Amortization of intangible assets    -    216  
    Impairment loss on equipment related to Hypernex  
    assets and liabilities acquisition    633    -  


   
Non-GAAP Net income (loss) for the quarter     (274 )  1,169  


   
    Non-GAAP net income (loss) per share:  
         Basic    (0.01 )  0.06  


         Diluted         0.06  

   
    Shares used for calculation of non-GAAP net income  
    (loss) per share:  
         Basic    19,356    18,072  


         Diluted         18,784