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Turkey lira slides again as US talks end without breakthrough
ISTANBUL, Aug 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Turkey’s embattled lira on Thursday hit a
new record low against the dollar as high-level talks seeking to slacken
tensions between Ankara and Washington produced no apparent breakthrough
between the two NATO allies.
The lira lost 2.0 percent to trade at 5.4 to the dollar and lost 2.2
percent against the euro to trade at 6.3, also a record low.
The latest punishment on markets came after a delegation led by Turkish
Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal failed to secure a deal with Washington on
a number of issues including the detention of US pastor Andrew Brunson which
has caused a crisis in ties.
The two NATO allies have imposed reciprocal sanctions on two ministers on
both sides, including an asset freeze, in a row over Turkey’s imprisonment on
terror charges for almost two years of Brunson, who runs a small church in
the Aegean city of Izmir.
The tensions have hit hard the already battered Turkish lira, which has
lost over 40 percent of its value this year.
Neither Turkish nor US officials commented on the result of the talks on
Wednesday with the State Department saying only Onal and Deputy Secretary of
State John Sullivan “discussed a range of bilateral matters including Pastor
Brunson.”
But US media reports said Washington failed to secure assurances from
Ankara to free the pastor, who currently remains under house arrest.
The Wall Street Journal, citing American officials, reported that US and
Turkish officials were “unable to produce a breakthrough”, raising fears
Washington could take tougher punitive actions unless the standoff is
resolved.
Brunson was detained in October 2016 on charges of terror and espionage,
and if convicted, could face a jail term of 35 years. US President Donald
Trump has described his detention as a “total disgrace” and urged President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan to free him.
London-based Capital Economics said in a note that Turkish markets fell
after the talks in Washington, which meant “US sanctions are likely to remain
in place or even tighten”.
It said it remained uncertain how the sanctions would develop but “Our
best guess is that Turkey’s important strategic position means that cooler
heads and common sense will ultimately prevail.”
The Turkish economy is showing signs of overheating, with the country
running a large current account deficit that makes it heavily dependent on
foreign capital inflows.
BSS/AFP/RY/1925 hrs