Economists expect fall in Turkey's interest rates

By Murat Aslan

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Turkish Central Bank is expected to lower interest rates next week, an Anadolu Agency survey found on Friday.

Next Thursday, the bank will hold its 10th Monetary Policy Committee meeting this year to announce its decision on interest rates.

Among 26 economists surveyed by Anadolu Agency, six expected no change, while eight predicted the rate to fall by 50 basis points, one by 75 basis points, and 11 by 100 basis points, with the median being 50 basis points.

The bank lowered its one-week repo rate -- its policy rate -- to 18% in its September meeting from 19%.

The median of economists' expectations for the year-end policy rate was 17%.

*Writing by Gokhan Ergocun