Borsa Istanbul opens higher, lira flat against dollar

ANKARA (AA) – The Borsa Istanbul BIST 100 index rose 0.43 percent to 78,191.39 points at open Thursday.

Wednesday’s BIST 100 index was in positive territory during the day thanks to demand for shares with foreign currency-denominated assets, despite the broad-based U.S. dollar and euro appreciation against the Turkish lira.

Borsa Istanbul's BIST 100, the country’s benchmark index, closed Wednesday 1.03 percent, or 796 points, higher at 77,853.65.

The U.S. dollar/Turkish lira exchange rate, which was at 3.0580 by the time markets closed at 5.30 p.m. (1430GMT) Wednesday, was flat at the 9.30 a.m. (0630GMT) open Thursday.

Analysts expect monetary policy meeting minutes of the European Central Bank due in the afternoon and volatile foreign exchanges to help set the market’s course today.