Turkish stocks higher at close of trade

By Bahattin Gonultas

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish shares ended higher on Thursday with gains in the financial, telecoms, electricity and services sectors.

Borsa Istanbul's BIST-100, the country's benchmark index, traded 0.41 percent (3,304.89 points) up to close at 88,246.07.

On the fourth trading day of the week, the telecommunications and electricity sectors rose 1.77 percent and 1.46 percent respectively.

The financial sector index was up 0.56 percent and the services sector index was up 1.05 percent while the industrial and technology sectors fell 0.33 percent and 0.20 percent, respectively.

The total trading volume was 3.7 billion Turkish liras ($1.01 billion).

The most heavily-traded stocks were those of private lenders Garanti Bank and Isbank, national flag carrier Turkish Airlines, state lender Halkbank and energy giant Tupras.

Shares in the integrated electric producer and wholesaler Odas Elektrik (ODAS) gained 7.44 percent in value, making it the top percent gainer.

Food producer Tat Konserve (TATGD) was the top loser, with its shares losing 5.05 percent in value.

Shares in Metro Holding (METRO) which is active in the tourism, food processing, real estate, mining and energy sectors, climbed to five-year highs; up 6.84 percent to 1.25 Turkish lira each share.

On Thursday, gold for April delivery was up 0.68 percent or $7.15 to reach $1,240.45 an ounce. The Borsa Istanbul Gold Exchange index rose 1.12 percent in value with gold trading at 145,950 Turkish liras per kilogram.

However, crude oil for March delivery fell 0.41 percent or 0.22 to hit $52.89 a barrel, while April Brent crude futures contract was down 0.66 percent or 0.37 to trade at $55.38 a barrel.