Turkish lira slides 1.6 per cent towards record dollar low

Turkey’s lira dipped to 13 to the dollar on Tuesday, resuming a slide towards last week’s record low as strong economic growth data failed to alleviate concerns about a policy of easing monetary policy despite inflation around 20 per cent.

The lira weakened as much as 1.6 per cent to 13.015 versus the dollar, before edging back to 12.97 by 1027 GMT. It has lost 43 per cent of its value against the US currency this year, hitting a record low of 13.45 last Tuesday after President Tayyip Erdogan’s defence of recent interest rate cuts.

Turkey’s economy grew 7.4 per cent year-on-year in the third quarter, according to official data released on Tuesday, in line with market expectations and boosted by retail demand, manufacturing and exports.

But economists’ attention was focused on Erdogan’s comments in support of low interest rates, most recently being quoted by media on Monday as saying he will never defend interest rate hikes nor compromise on the issue. L8N2SK0O5

Under pressure from Erdogan, the central bank has slashed rates by 400 basis points since September to 15 per cent and is widely expected to ease again in December. Economists have strongly criticised the policy which has left the policy rate nearly 500 basis points below inflation.

November Inflation data will be released on Friday and a Reuters poll forecast that it will rise to an annual 20.7 per cent, its highest level in three years, while economists forecast the lira slide will send inflation toward 30 per cent next year.

The selloff this month is the lira’s fifth worst ever, according to Goldman Sachs research.