Turkish stocks flat at close

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s benchmark index had inched down 0.04 percent at the close of the daily session on Wednesday, Oct. 26.

The BIST 100 index fell 35.38 points to close at 79,397.94. The total trading volume of the country's stock exchange market was 3.6 billion Turkish liras (approx. $1.16 billion).

On the third day of the week, the banking sector index advanced 0.62 percent while the holding sector index was down 0.76 percent.

Among sector indices, the tourism index rose the most, 4.04 percent, while the biggest decline was seen in the mining index which went down 2.08 percent.

The most heavily traded stocks were private lenders Akbank and Garanti Bank, transportation company Metro, state lender Halkbank, and the national flag carrier Turkish Airlines.

Sports club Trabzonspor's stocks were the top percent gainer with an increase of 9.33 percent in value, while heavyweight Istanbul sports club Galatasaray lost the most value, as its shares fell 7.12 percent.

The Borsa Istanbul Gold Exchange index rose 0.10 percent in value, with gold trading at 126,200 Turkish liras (some $40,851) per kilogram.

The Turkish lira was flat against the U.S. dollar to trade at 3.0850 compared to Tuesday's closing rate of 3.0820.

Analysts said that domestically, on Thursday investors are expected to follow Turkey's Central Bank interest rate decision plus the European Central Bank's interest rate action in addition to figures from the U.S. set to be released.