A cautious approach required?
ISTANBUL - Turkish Daily News
Global financial management and advisory firm Merrill Lynch said the overvalued Turkish lira was pushing Turkey's current account deficit higher and that rising U.S. interest rates could attract foreign currency, now used to finance the gap, putting pressure on the Turkish currency.
In a report on Turkey's foreign currency situation, the firm said that although it expected no large depreciation, there was room for caution.
It said the Turkish lira has been very strong over the past few months, despite the persisting deterioration in the country's current account balance and waning enthusiasm for Turkey's European Union membership bid in the aftermath of the French and Dutch rejection of the proposed European Union constitution. Although foreign investor confidence in Turkey was high, a delay in the start of membership talks, scheduled to start on Oct. 3 would hurt investor sentiment, the Merrill Lynch report warned.
Stoop