Public finance

The decline in annual inflation continued for a fourth month in a row, easing from 51.97 percent in August to 49.38 percent in September, data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) showed on Oct. 3.

This marked the lowest annual inflation rate since July 2023.

Consumer prices advanced 2.97 percent month-on-month after rising 2.47 percent in August.

Türkiye is "open for business and dialogue," Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek announced on Wednesday, emphasizing the nation's benefits from post-pandemic supply chain diversification and its comprehensive reform program to boost competitiveness, productivity, and potential growth.

Analysts at some international banks are now expecting the Turkish Central Bank to deliver a rate cut in November after the bank altered its guidance.

In a statement accompanying its rate decision, the bank said on Sept. 19 that "monetary policy tools will be used effectively in case a significant and persistent deterioration in inflation is foreseen."

Most economists expect Türkiye's Central Bank to keep its policy rate steady at 50 percent when members of the Monetary Policy Committee meet later this week on Sept. 19.

In August, the monetary authority held the one-week repo auction rate unchanged at 50 percent for a fifth straight month. The bank last raised rates in March by 500 basis points.

Erich Arispe Morales, Senior Director at Fitch Ratings, emphasized on Monday the necessity for Türkiye to maintain a tight monetary policy to improve and sustainably decrease inflation expectations, anticipating a gradual easing by the first quarter of 2025.

The European Central Bank is expected to cut interest rates again this week as inflation drifts back down towards its two-percent target, but policymakers will likely stay tight-lipped on future moves.

The ECB began raising rates sharply in mid-2022 to throttle surging consumer prices but has begun to ease the pressure as inflation rates have fallen.

Credit rating agency Fitch upgraded Türkiye's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) from B+ to BB- on Friday.

Chinese consumer inflation rose more than expected in July to hit a five-month high, data showed on Aug. 9, providing some much-needed positive news on the world's number-two economy.

The reading comes as authorities struggle to kickstart activity among the country's army of consumers, with officials last week issuing a set of directives aimed at boosting buying.

BELGRADE - The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) Executive Board decided on Thursday to keep the key policy rate at 6 pct, and the rates on deposit (4.75 pct) and lending (7.25 pct) facilities also remained unchanged.

The main policy framework will not change, and the main objectives will be preserved when the medium-term program is updated in September, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz has said.