Turkey

Akbank is kicking off the first set of refinancings of the year for Turkish banks, launching its syndication with a smaller volume and tighter margins than last year’s deal. But lenders are divided on whether the deal represents an achievement for the Turkish bank, or betrays an outlook festooned with risk. Mariam Meskin reports.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Isbank will become the property of the country's finance ministry, in what a US-based investor said he saw as a 'further consolidation of Erdogan power'.

The hopes of emerging markets participants were proven well founded on Wednesday when US Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell walked back from the aggressive trajectory of rate hikes he had previously suggested.

Georges Elhedery will be moving from Dubai to London in order to take up a new role as head of global markets at HSBC. He replaces Thibaut de Roux, who reportedly left in September after an accusation of inappropriate conduct.

Turkey hit screens for a quick trip to the euro market to sell its second bond of the year on Thursday, and managed to slice 25bp from its yield.

The Republic of Turkey on Thursday returned to the capital markets for the second time this month, launching a €1.25bn six year bond and taking advantage of a recent buying spree in the country’s bonds.

The Republic of Turkey has returned for a bond in euros after the $2bn note it sold earlier this month rocketed in value.

Emerging market investors are enjoying an excellent start to the year in the secondary market, but primary supply has not maintained its strong start to the year. Bankers and investors are confident that issuers will get moving soon though.

Backed by a resilient and toughened banking system, Turkish debt could be one of the most rewarding investments in loan and bond format alike. As the country recovers from the currency crisis of August 2018, it is high time for those still standing on the platform to board the Turkish train.

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Turkey’s export-import bank (Turk Eximbank) raised $500m with a five year bond on Wednesday, becoming the first Turkish borrower, apart from the sovereign itself, to access the market since the lira crisis. The deal benefitted from a relief rally following a Turkish central bank meeting on Wednesday.

Turkey’s export import bank raised $500m on Wednesday, returning to the bond market for the first time since the Turkish currency crisis in 2018, benefiting from a relief rally following the Turkish central bank meeting on Wednesday.