Turkey - Factors to Watch on Nov 20

ISTANBUL, Nov 20 - Here are press reports, news and events that could affect Turkish financial markets on Friday.

The lira <IYIX=> was trading at 1.49 against the dollar in early trade, compared with Thursday's close of 1.49. The yield on the Aug 3, 2011, benchmark bond <0#TRTSYSUM=IS> rose to 8.75 percent from a previous 8.70 percent. The main share index <.XU100> fell 1.74 percent to 46,419.87.

GLOBAL MARKETS

Asian shares fell on Friday and the dollar firmed as investors took profits on riskier assets after U.S. data raised fears that a global economic recovery could lose momentum. The dollar <.DXY> edged up 0.2 percent against a basket of major currencies as some investors shifted back to safer assets despite extremely low yields. [nHKG303852]

INTEREST RATES

The Central Bank's monetary policy committee late on Thursday reduced its benchmark borrowing rate by 25 basis points, as expected, and said its monetary policy would retain its downward bias for a long time. It cut the lending rate to 9 percent from 9.25 percent, it also said in a statement.[nLJ455739]

IMF

The government is continuing its negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, Economy Minister Ali Babacan told parliament late on Thursday. Turkey's last accord expired in May 2008. Financial markets see a new lending accord with the IMF as an external anchor for the country's economy recovery.

DOGAN YAYIN <DYHOL.IS>, DOGAN HOLDING <DOHOL.IS>

German publisher Axel Springer's <SPRGn.DE> said on Thursday it will buy a 29 percent stake in Dogan Yayin for 356.7 million lira. Turkey's biggest media company is engaged in a protracted legal battle with the government over a record $3.2 billion tax fine. Dogan Yayin stock jumped as much as 11 percent before closing up at 3.82 percent, and its parent Dogan Holding rose 0.98 percent to 1.03 lira.

NOTE - For a diary of forthcoming events, see [TR/DIARY].

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For real-time quotes, double click on: Istanbul National-100 stock index <.XU100>, Interbank lira trading <IYIX=>, lira bond trading <0#TRTSYSUM=IS>.