Turkish stocks open higher

ANKARA (AA) - Borsa Istanbul's BIST 100 index gained 145.48 points to open at 79,355.32 Thursday.

Among the sector indices, the sports sector advanced the most with a 2.69 percent rise, while the leasing and factoring sector index fell the most, with a 0.03 percent decline.

Turkish markets today will focus on the results of Turkey’s Central Bank meeting for interest rates, expected to be delivered at 12:00 GMT (0900GMT). Markets are expecting the main policy rates to remain unchanged. Investors will also be following ECB announcements, as it is expected to reassure the markets that its bond-purchase program will not end anytime soon.

The U.S. dollar/Turkish lira exchange rate stood at 3.0680 early Thursday. The Turkish lira was in positive territory on Wednesday as well, gaining almost 1 percent against the dollar to close at 3.0745 thanks to anticipation that the Central Bank will hold rates steady.

The two-year benchmark bond was traded within a tight range of 8.88 percent/8.94 percent, ending the day at a low of 8.88 percent, 12 base points below its previous close.