Turkish stocks down at close

By Muhammed Ali Gurtas

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's benchmark stock index ended Wednesday down 0.99 percent to close at 97,187.87 points.

Borsa Istanbul's BIST 100 index recorded a 972.86-point decline compared with Tuesday's close of 98,160.73 points, while it started the midweek trading day at 98,204.51 points.

At daily close, the USD/TRY exchange rate was 6.0340, while one U.S. dollar traded for 6.0010 Turkish liras at the previous close.

The euro/lira rate was 6.9620, versus 6.9270 at close on Tuesday, and one British pound exchanged for 7.8460 Turkish liras while the GBP/TRY exchange rate was 7.7990 at the previous close.

In Borsa Istanbul's Precious Metals and Diamond Markets, the price of one ounce of gold rose to $1,202.50 by market close, compared with $1,198.00 at close on Tuesday.

As of 6 p.m. local time (1500GMT), the price of Brent oil stood at around $85.08 per barrel, hovering between $84.03 and $85.33 during the day.

Since the beginning of this year, Brent oil price has risen from $66 a barrel.