Euro slips, Turkey starts lira-settled auction

By Bahattin Gonultas

ANKARA (AA) - The Euro/U.S. dollar exchange rate fell nearly 0.6 percent to 1.1738 in the global currency market on Monday after German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s attempt to form a coalition government failed.

The market will watch Merkel's next move; whether she sets up a minority government or calls a national election.

In another important development, October figures of previously owned homes and durable goods orders in the U.S. will be announced on Monday.

In the domestic market, the Turkish Central Bank's lira-settled forward foreign exchange auctions will take place on Monday. The auctions will be held for one-month, three-month and six-month maturities.

The bank will hold a one-month maturity auction worth $150 million, a three-month maturity auction worth $100 million and a six-month maturity auction worth $100 million. The bank plans for the maximum amount of forex sale to be $3 billion until end of the year.

Also on Monday, the central government's debt stock data for October will be announced by the Treasury.

The Turkish lira rose to 3.8620 against the U.S. dollar on Monday’s opening, compared to 3.8825 on Friday’s close.

Gold prices were down 0.13 percent at $1,290 per ounce at 0732 GMT on Monday.

On Friday, Turkey's benchmark stock index closed the last week down 0.69 percent at 106,239.46 points.

International benchmark Brent crude oil hovered over $62.50 per barrel on Monday, down 12 cents from its last close, at 0732GMT.

The ten-year benchmark bond in Turkey was traded at 12.57 percent, 9 base points above its previous close on Friday.