Turkish assets extend losses, stocks fall more than 6 pct on Thurs

The Turkish lira opened around 1.4950 and briefly fell below the key 1.50 levels against the dollar, hitting the lowest value since October 2006. The lira strengthened back to 1.4780 against the dollar.

The lira also lost against the euro and fell below the critical 2.00 level, however strengthened back to 1.98 levels. Â

"In Turkey in particular, the size of the moves is going to refocus attention on the extremely onerous public and external debt financing needs: $145 billion in external financing and public sector debt roll-overs of $100 billion over the next year," said Tim Ash, Head of CEEMEA research of RBS.

The benchmark Istanbul stock closed 6.26 down percent after touching its lowest with more than 8 percent.

 

The yield on the benchmark June 23, 2010 bond also rose to its highest with 21.50 percent but fell to 21.11 percent at the end of the day from Thursday's close at 20.71 percent.

 

Policy makers should act rapidly to restore confidence in the markets and if the decline in the lira's value continues further this may force the central bank to step in with interest rake hikes or direct intervention to the markets, he added.

 

"The official line that Turkey was a safe haven from the current crisis now looks likely to get consigned to the emerging markets decoupling fantasy land," Ash said.