Turkish lira

The Islamic lending arm of Turkey's state-run Ziraat Bank has applied to sell 1.5 billion lira ($501.9 million) worth of Islamic bonds, or sukuk, according to Turkey's Capital Markets Board (SPK).

The heightened tension between Ankara and Moscow over Syria pushed Turkish bond yields to four-and-half-month highs and hit the Turkish currency, despite a general positive outlook among emerging markets. 

Turkey's lira dropped the most since the beginning of January and slid to a three-week low of 2.98 per dollar on Feb. 16, although it has rebounded later on Feb. 17 to 2.96. 

The Turkish Lira has weakened to 3.0 against U.S. dollar, its weakest since early October. 

Almost all emerging markets were hit by geopolitical tension amid rising Middle East uncertainty and North Korea's announcement that it had carried out a nuclear test, compounding worries about the Chinese economy.

The Turkish Lira has weakened to 3.0 against U.S. dollar, its weakest since early October. 

Almost all emerging markets were hit by geopolitical tension amid rising Middle East uncertainty and North Korea's announcement that it had carried out a nuclear test, compounding worries about the Chinese economy.

The Turkish Lira has shown significant strength against the U.S. dollar over the last two weeks, as traders have shrugged off the effects of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) rate hike and the Turkish Central Bank's decision to hold rates steady.

Turkish stocks firmed on Dec. 21 and the Turkish Lira moved sideways ahead of a crucial interest rate decision that could help the Central Bank shake off fears about interference in monetary policy.

After the long-awaited rate hike decision was realized by the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) on Dec. 16, the Turkish Lira has become the best performer among all emerging currencies against the dollar. 

All eyes in the Turkish markets have been on the rate decision of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) this week. Eight years after a devastating recession opened an era of loose U.S. monetary policy, the Fed was expected to raise rates late Dec. 16 for the first time since 2006, a sign the world's largest economy had overcome most of the wounds sustained in the global financial crisis.

Risks for Turkish banks are rising but financial metrics have so far held up well and investment grade ratings are assigned to most of the country's large lenders, said Fitch Ratings in a written statement on Oct. 30. 

Still, the sharp fall in value of the lira increases risks for banks' asset quality, capitalization and foreign currency liquidity positions, it warned. 

The Turkish Lira has lost value after the U.S. Federal Reserve hinted at a possible December interest rate hike and rallied against most emerging currencies. 

The lira's value declined to around 2.93 from 2.89 against the dollar after the Fed decision on Oct. 28. The Turkish currency then rebounded to 2.916 early Oct. 29.