The bank's policy rate has been kept steady at 19% since March this year, while inflation has continued to climb and hit 19.25% in August, exceeding expectations
The holdings have eased from a record high of $236.11 billion in January. Their fall accelerated in mid-March, as Turks converted their hard currencies to benefit from the lira's sharp decline against the dollar.
When adjusted for the parity effect, the data showed the hard currency holdings rose by $1.35 billion in the week to April 16.
Erdogan has long called for lower rates and abruptly fired the last three bank chiefs in less than two years, including Naci Agbal on March 20. Analysts say the bank's credibility is tarnished given Erdogan's outsized influence on monetary policy.
"I do not think the central bank or the governor knows when they will cut the policy rate, since they will act according to the data. I think it is early to make a comment on rate cuts before seeing the inflation data," said Ertem.
The holdings have eased from a record high of $236.11 billion in January. When adjusted for the parity effect, the data showed the hard currency holdings dropped by $2.02 billion in the week to April 2.
Data also showed on Thursday that foreign investors sold $140.4 million worth of Turkish government bonds in the week to April 2, as well as $364.4 million worth of stocks.
The holdings have eased from a record high of $236.11 billion in January. When adjusted with the parity effect, the data showed the hard currency holdings dropped by $8.13 billion in the week to March 26.
The lira briefly fell 15% to near its all-time low in a dramatic selloff after President Tayyip Erdogan sacked the hawkish former Central Bank Governor Naci Agbal.
A total of $26.2 million was also pulled from equity funds invested in Turkey, the sixth consecutive week of net selling, the data from Lipper showed.
Agbal became an investor darling after his appointment in November by resisting Erdogan's perceived meddling in monetary policy and his repeated calls to cut interest rates.