Turkey's stock exchange scores another record high

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's benchmark stock index continues set new records, rising 0.12 percent on Monday to close at a historic high of 120,845.29 points with a 7 billion Turkish lira ($1.85 billion) trade volume.

Borsa Istanbul's BIST 100 rose 143.38 points Monday evening.

The BIST 100 also saw its highest-ever level Monday, reaching 121,531.50 points before retreating.

Previously on Friday, the BIST 100 rose 2,097.87 points to post its highest close to date at 120,701.92 points.

At Monday's close, the banking sector index went down 0.51 percent, while the holding sector index rose 0.09 percent.

Among all sector indices, the best performer was tourism, up 2.01 percent, while the mining sector index saw the biggest fall, down 1.40 percent.

Stocks of pipe and tube producer Erbosan were the top gainer of the day, rising 6.83 percent. Stocks of energy firm Odas Elektrik suffered the biggest drop, losing 3.25 percent.

The five most-traded stocks were private lender Garanti, Turkey's national flag carrier Turkish Airlines, investment trust Global Yatirim Holding, automotive manufacturer Karsan Otomotiv, and state lender Halkbank.

The U.S. dollar/Turkish lira rate rose to 3.7810 as of 5.00 p.m. local time (1400GMT) Monday, compared with Friday's closing rate of 3.7560.

One euro was traded for 4.6780 liras by market close, versus 4.6690 liras at Friday's close.

Meanwhile, the BIST Gold Exchange index was down 0.86 percent, with the price of gold per kilogram at 163,400 Turkish liras ($43,101) as of 5.00 p.m. local time (1400GMT) on Monday, versus 163,000 Turkish liras ($43,416) on Friday.

The price of Brent crude oil was $69.55 per barrel as of 6.25 p.m. local time (1525GMT) Monday, compared with Friday's close of $70.32.