Turkish lira hits weakest level against dollar in almost 2 months

The lira traded at 5.8455 against the dollar at 0849 GMT. Turkey's jobless rate edged down to 13.8pc in August
16 Dec, 2019
  • The lira traded at 5.8455 against the dollar at 0849 GMT.
  • Turkey's jobless rate edged down to 13.8pc in August-October period which suggested jobs remain elusive despite the economy having emerged from recession.

The lira traded at 5.8455 against the dollar at 0849 GMT, weakening some 0.6pc from Friday's close of 5.8120. Earlier, it reached 5.8505, its weakest level since Oct. 22.

The currency has declined more than 9pc this year mainly over concerns over deteriorating ties between Ankara and Washington, caused by policy differences in Syria and Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defence system.

A U.S. Senate committee backed legislation last week calling for sanctions on Ankara over its purchase of the S-400s and its offensive in Syria.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said Turkey could consider shutting down Incirlik air base in response to the potential U.S. sanctions.

"The Turkish currency is the weakest emerging market currency at the beginning of trading this week," said Piotr Matys, an EM forex strategist at Rabobank.

"The main reason is that diplomatic tensions between the United States and Turkey could escalate. Erdogan's comments are an explicit warning that unsettled investors."

Turkey's jobless rate edged down to 13.8pc in August-October period which suggested jobs remain elusive despite the economy having emerged from recession.

Turkey's bluechip Borsa Istanbul index traded almost flat, while the banking index declined some 0.45pc.

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