By Tuba Sahin
ANKARA (AA) – The BIST 100 index rose 120.49 points to open at 77,739.96 on Thursday in its first transactions.
On the fourth opening session of the week, the country's benchmark index started with a 0.16 percent increase.
The banking and holding sector indices advanced 0.17 and 0.10 percent, respectively. The investment trusts sector index rose the most, by 1.07 percent. The insurance index saw the biggest drop, 0.50 percent, in initial transactions.
Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar/Turkish lira exchange rate fell to stand at 3.5060 at 10 a.m. (0700GMT) Thursday, compared to 3.5110 at Wednesday's close.
Gold held at $1,131.83 an ounce.
U.S. crude futures were flat at $52.48 a barrel, while benchmark Brent crude futures added 0.13 percent to $54.53.