Turkish Lira Falls to Record Low Near 19 to the Dollar

Woman holds Turkish Lira banknotes in this illustration taken May 30, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
Woman holds Turkish Lira banknotes in this illustration taken May 30, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
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Turkish Lira Falls to Record Low Near 19 to the Dollar

Woman holds Turkish Lira banknotes in this illustration taken May 30, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
Woman holds Turkish Lira banknotes in this illustration taken May 30, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Türkiye's lira weakened to a fresh record low of 18.9620 against the dollar on Thursday.

Presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for May 14 are adding to uncertainty. They will determine whether Türkiye continues with unorthodox policies under President Tayyip Erdogan or reverts to orthodoxy as promised by the opposition.

Separately, Türkiye's Treasury said on Thursday it had borrowed $2.25 billion in a eurobond issue maturing in 2029, bringing the amount it borrowed from international markets to $5 billion this year.

The yield to investor in the latest issue was 9.50%, down from 9.75% in the eurobond issued in January, the Treasury said, adding that demand was more than triple the amount issued, Reuters reported.

More than a third of the amount issued was sold to investors in the United Kingdom and more than 20% to those in the United States, it said.

The lira lost some 30% of its value against the dollar in 2022 and 44% the year before.

It is likely to hover around 19 to the dollar until the end of the election cycle, largely thanks to forex interventions, but would likely decline further in the long term if Erdogan wins the election, Wells Fargo said in a note.

Türkiye's international bonds also came under pressure with longer-dated issues falling around half a cent in the dollar, according to Tradeweb. ,



Gold Gains as Dollar Slips on Trump Tariff Uncertainty

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
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Gold Gains as Dollar Slips on Trump Tariff Uncertainty

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)

Gold prices rose on Tuesday as the US dollar eased due to uncertainty around President-elect Donald Trump's tariff plans, with further support coming from top consumer China's central bank adding to its gold reserves for a second straight month.

Spot gold was up 0.5% at $2,648.75 per ounce, as of 1218 GMT. US gold futures also rose 0.5% to $2,660.20.

"The main factor is the softening of the US dollar over the last two sessions, which has provided some relief for the precious metal," said Ricardo Evangelista, senior analyst at ActivTrades.

The dollar index eased towards a one-week low versus major peers as traders considered whether President-elect Donald Trump's tariffs would be less aggressive than promised following a report in the Washington Post, Reuters reported.

Trump however denied the report, deepening uncertainty about future US trade policies.

A stronger dollar makes bullion more expensive for other currency holders.

Traders are setting their sights on Friday's US jobs report for Fed policy clues, along with job openings data due later in the day, ADP employment and the minutes from the Fed's December meeting on Wednesday.

Fed Governor Lisa Cook on Monday said that the Fed can be cautious about any further rate cuts given a solid economy and inflation proving stickier than previously expected.

Bullion is considered a hedge against inflation, but high rates reduce the non-yielding asset's appeal.

Meanwhile, China's gold reserves stood at 73.29 million fine troy ounces at the end of December as the central bank kept buying gold for a second straight month, official data showed.

"By re-entering the market in December, Beijing signaled that its gold acquisition program remains active—a development likely to lend continued support to the precious metal's price," Evangelista added.

Gold prices gained about 27% in 2024, mainly boosted by robust central bank purchases and Fed rate cuts.

Spot silver gained 0.8% to $30.19 per ounce, platinum added 1.2% to $944.39 and palladium rose 0.9% to $928.38.