Turkey delivers rate hike as Akbank inches towards refi

The Central Bank of Turkey delivered a larger-than-expected interest rate hike this week that was given a cautious welcome by emerging markets bond syndicate bankers hoping to see some stability in the lira. Loans bankers working on a crucial $930m loan refinancing for Akbank — seen as a litmus test of foreign lenders' appetite to roll over loans to the financial sector — were nonplussed by the move, but still expressed confidence in rolling the bulk of the funds.