Turkey

Turkish bank smoke signal augurs pain ahead

7 December 2018

Akbank, the country’s fifth-largest lender by assets, has launched a rights issue to bolster capital ratios. That’s wise given the economy’s problems. Rising bad debts, higher funding costs and liability mismatches will inflict more financial pain on banks in the coming year.

Saudi oil could help grease Turkish discretion

24 October 2018

Leaked details of a Saudi journalist’s death have dominated Turkish media but President Erdogan hasn’t yet directly implicated the kindgom’s crown prince. Ankara may be hoping to use its leverage to help its economy. The lira has recovered, but cheap oil would still help.

Viewsroom: Saudi fiasco sets Wall Street ablaze

18 October 2018

Bankers and officials have ditched a huge Saudi shindig after Turkey accused the kingdom of killing a prominent journalist – but big deal fees and oil reserves make the kingdom hard to shun. Breakingviews columnists discuss the financial ramifications of the diplomatic crisis.

Wall Street shows Trump the way on Saudi Arabia

15 October 2018

BlackRock’s Larry Fink and Steve Schwarzman of Blackstone have joined other CEOs in skipping Riyadh’s “Davos in the Desert”. Private sector boycotts usually follow state sanctions. The U.S. government’s inaction reflects its reliance on Saudi Arabia, and fear of high oil prices.

“Davos in the Desert 2” faces a sophomore slump

8 October 2018

The possibility that a Saudi journalist was killed in the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate will add to concerns foreigners harbored about attending the crown prince’s second confab in two weeks. Morality aside, the economics of going mostly appeal to bankers – and then just barely.

Turkey’s outbreak of common sense has limits

13 September 2018

The central bank has hiked rates more than markets expected, a welcome sign of independence after attacks by President Erdogan. The move may avoid a currency crisis, but Ankara’s political and economic vulnerabilities endure. And tensions between bank and state may get worse.

Capital retreat turns light on Turkey lookalikes

17 August 2018

Other emerging economies also have lots of foreign currency debt or inadequate FX reserves. Some, such as South Africa and Argentina, are already hurting. Breakingviews ranks the countries that look the most vulnerable as flows to riskier markets go into reverse.

Viewsroom: Turkey’s financial crisis may spread

16 August 2018

The feud between President Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump over steel tariffs threatens to turn other emerging markets cold. Breakingviews columnists discuss the global impact of Turkey’s currency meltdown. Plus: A bad bank in China gets whacked by political risk.

Hadas: Turkey shows damage of fading world order

14 August 2018

The country and its foreign creditors have had an irresponsible relationship for decades. The latest crisis is different because one-time supporters like the U.S., EU and IMF are less willing to help, and there are no credible replacements. Prepare for more currency crises.

It’s time to take away Trump’s tariff toys

13 August 2018

Using steel duties to punish Turkey over a detained U.S. pastor is an abuse of the president's powers. While national security is a legitimate reason to restrict trade, doing so on a whim hurts America. Congress can be more muscular even if it's not yet prepared to rein Trump in.

Turkey fated to pick worst of its bad options

10 August 2018

The lira fell over 10 percent to record lows against the dollar. The country’s options are narrowing: impose capital controls or seek IMF help. The latter will come with strings that will be unpalatable to President Tayyip Erdogan. Defiant self-sufficiency is more his style.

Foreign banks in Turkey face degrees of pain

10 August 2018

A growing economic crisis in Turkey has sent shares in European banks with significant local operations down by 3 to 4 percent. But the quantum of their exposure varies. Longer-term pain will depend on whether they matched loans with local deposits or relied on parent funding.

Erdogan opens Turkish lira to new line of attack

6 August 2018

The currency hit a record low against the dollar after the United States said it was reviewing Turkey’s duty-free access to its markets. President Tayyip Erdogan has alienated investors. The tougher he talks to the world’s largest economy, the more they’ll punish Turkish assets.

Turkey misses easy chance to win credibility

24 July 2018

The lira slumped after the central bank left interest rates unchanged. With inflation at 14-year highs, there was every reason to tighten policy. Inaction will only reinforce investors’ concern that President Tayyip Erdogan’s distaste for higher rates is exerting undue influence.

Tayyip Erdogan erodes Turkey’s market defences

10 July 2018

The president named his son-in-law as the finance minister in a new cabinet which excludes the man most trusted by investors. That’s a mistake. The self-styled “enemy of interest rates” now has no one to sugercoat policies and rhetoric that are apt to unsettle Turkish assets.

Hadas: Turkish strongman overcomes mixed economics

26 June 2018

Tayyip Erdogan’s nationalist and religious appeal gave him victory in the presidential election. Economic factors played a lesser role. The mix is typical for “will of the people” rulers. They make financial promises, but their supporters care more about identity than money.

Turkey’s strongman gains mandate for bad policies

25 June 2018

Tayyip Erdogan and his AK Party emerged victorious from presidential and parliamentary elections. Enhanced powers may encourage the Turkish leader to implement inflationary stimulus and again challenge the central bank’s independence. Investors will be less forgiving than voters.

Guest view: Beware emerging market storm clouds

22 June 2018

A new period of mounting risks and uncertainties looms on the horizon for developing economies like Turkey, Malaysia, Brazil and Mexico, argues former Citibank executive William Rhodes. Rising price volatility and pressures on a range of currencies are merely the warning signs.

Hadas: Market complacency curses debtor countries

31 May 2018

President Erdogan is wrong to claim a sinister “interest rate lobby” has aggravated Turkey’s structural weaknesses. Foolish foreigners have, however, financed unsustainable consumption binges in this and other economies. Remedies range from regulatory nudges to capital controls.

Turkey’s FX rot demands radical measures

23 May 2018

A massive one-off rate rise is the least it will take to halt the lira’s accelerating slide to new record lows against the dollar. Even then, investors might still fear President Tayyip Erdogan’s monetary policy meddling. Capital controls would then grow more likely.