Latest Posts from Istanbul Blog
Istanbul Blog
About Istanbul Blog
Reflections from our correspondents on the ground in the Turkish capital.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Banking regulation as clear as dishwater
June 22, 2020
Latest rule change from central bank in effort to ramp up credit in economy suspends reserve requirement for lenders. Very likely an amendment will emerge before you get to the end of this sentence.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Lenders warned to avoid dancing around amended asset ratio, but everyone’s dancing around something in Turkey
June 7, 2020
The whole post-truth, and nothing but the post-truth.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Erdogan’s regulators hit uncooperative private banks with blunter instrument
June 1, 2020
Watchdog amends asset ratio calculation methodology after lenders find loopholes. President determined all banks should play a full role in delivering more cheap money. But some non-state players appear to be getting heartily fed up.
ISTANBUL BLOG: The “last legs” lira
May 6, 2020
You can almost smell the acrid smoke pouring out of the Turkish economy. But the finance minister has been up on the virtual podium to insist all is well. Curious analysts tuned into his charm offensive.
ISTANBUL BLOG: Everybody’s cottoning on to Turkey’s “native and national” car
April 15, 2020
So they had to import a prototype from Italy for the launch ceremony. And it’s got no engine. But a “holographic assistant” feature is within grasp and Erdogan is at the wheel. What’s not to like?