ISTANBUL: Turkey's 2-year benchmark bond yield dropped to 7.49 percent, its lowest since July 2013, on Friday as a slump in oil prices raised hopes of lower inflation and interest rate cuts in the import-dependent country.

The Turkish lira firmed to 2.2106 against the dollar by 0915 GMT from 2.2160 late on Thursday, while Istanbul's main share index was up 0.99 percent.

Copyright Reuters, 2014