Turkish economy minister Zeybekci not worried about weak lira

By bne IntelliNews April 21, 2015

Turkey should not be concerned about the local currency weakening, said economy minister Namik Zeybekci on April 20 as TRY weakened 0.78% d/d against the dollar to 2.6990. The lira has been the worst performing EM currency this year.

The local currency has been under pressure on investors’ concern over political uncertainty as the country heads for general elections in June. Analysts think the central bank will not raise interest rates to shore up the embattled currency because of pressure from politicians. The bank’s monetary policy committee will meet on April 22 to review interest rates but it is expected to keep the rates unchanged at their current levels.

The dollar has strengthened globally and the lira weakness is not due to home-grown problems, said Zeybekci, adding that the local authorities should not intervene to prop up the lira.

On a related note, when asked about President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent comment that the Turkish economy is in a temporary crisis but it will be overcome, finance minister Mehmet Simsek said in a televised interview on CNN Turk, on April 20 that Turkey’s economic growth has slowed but this is not an economic crisis.

GDP grew by 2.9%, the economy created 1.3mn jobs last year and real interest rate is close to zero, said Simsek, adding that given this picture he could not say the economy is in a crisis.

Policy Rate (%)
Date one-week repo
May-2010 7.00
Dec-2010 6.50
Jan-2011 6.25
Aug-2011 5.75
Dec-2012 5.50
Apr-2013 5.00
May-2013 4.50
Jan-2014 10.00
May-2014 9.50
Jun-14 8.75
Jul-14 8.25
Jan-15 7.75
Feb-15 7.50
Source: Central Bank
Read in IntelliNews Pro
Get IntelliNews Pro

Related Articles

Erdogan ‘win’ and ‘loss’ scenarios assessed by analysts ahead of June 24 polling day in Turkey

This weekend’s June 24 elections in Turkey are likely to be the tightest in the country in many years ... more

High net worth Turks and capital flee Turkey as prospect of Erdogan Mark II nears

Turks are joining foreign investors in shifting their assets—and in many cases themselves—out of the country amid fears for their money and security should President Recep Tayyip Erdogan win more ... more

Simsek: Better policy mix and reforms will help secure soft landing for Turkey

Turkey's strengthening fiscal and monetary policy mix and reforms should help secure a soft landing for its economy, Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek said on June 12. Ex-Wall Street banker ... more

Most Read

  1. Azerbaijan makes territorial gains in Nakhchivan as fighting with Armenia flares
    4 days ago
  2. Turkish Elections: Expect the unexpected
    3 days ago
  3. Irish tech titan lines up stake in Slovak AI firm
    5 days ago
  4. UPDATED: Leader of Romania’s ruling PSD gets prison sentence in abuse of office case
    3 days ago
  5. STOLYPIN: Putin builds a Presidential Administration fit for stagnation
    10 days ago
  1. KRUK REPORT: The unbearable lightness of being alive
    24 days ago
  2. COMMENT: Russia’s oil giant Rosneft just crossed one of China’s red lines in Vietnam
    19 days ago
  3. STOLYPIN: Putin builds a Presidential Administration fit for stagnation
    10 days ago
  4. Azerbaijan makes territorial gains in Nakhchivan as fighting with Armenia flares
    4 days ago
  5. Blow for tourism industry as Albania revealed to have Europe’s dirtiest bathing water
    24 days ago

Selected articles from our premium news/views wire IntelliNews Pro

Login to IntelliNews Pro
Get IntelliNews Pro

Reports

Dismiss