Record low Turkish lira teeters on the edge as rate cuts sting - Reuters

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A money changer counts Turkish lira banknotes at a currency exchange office in Ankara, Turkey November 11, 2021. REUTERS/Cagla Gurdogan

ANKARA, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Turkey's lira fell as much as 3.7% to a new intraday record low of 10.45 to the dollar on Tuesday, prompting some analysts to warn of another currency crisis due to a central bank seen as bowing to political pressure and slashing interest rates.

The lira has fallen 28% this year, the weakest performer in emerging markets (EM), mainly on investor concerns about President Tayyip Erdogan's influence on monetary policy and what many call a premature and risky monetary easing cycle.

The currency ended the day down 2.8% at 10.35 against the dollar, its largest daily percentage fall in a month and a record closing low.

The central bank has cut its key rate by 300 basis points since September, when the lira selloff accelerated, and is expected to lower it to 15% from 16% this week, according to a Reuters poll. read more

Inflation has meanwhile risen to near 20%, four times the official target, eating deeply into the earnings of Turks along with the sharp currency depreciation. Lira weakness, in turn, stokes prices via Turkey's heavy imports.

"There is a growing risk that the central bank's continued obedience to pressure from President Erdogan for interest rate cuts results in sharp and disorderly falls in the currency over the coming days and weeks," said Jason Tuvey, senior EM economist at Capital Economics.

The central bank has defended its independence and said price pressure is temporary. Last month it stressed the need to address current account deficits, prompting opposition politicians to claim the government is sacrificing the currency.

Erdogan frequently calls for lower rates to boost the economy, including exports and jobs. He has rapidly overhauled the bank's leadership, including firing another three monetary policy committee (MPC) members last month. read more

"The central bank's hands are tied. It is carrying out the Palace's orders," said Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition CHP Republican People's Party. "This is their target: for the lira to erode..." he added.

The lira is down some 33% from mid-February, when it touched 6.9 to the dollar on expectations of tight policy under former central bank chief Naci Agbal. Erdogan, a self-described enemy of interest rates, replaced him with Sahap Kavcioglu in March.

FOREIGN DEBT BURDEN

Analysts are split on what level of lira depreciation would prompt the central bank, and Erdogan, to pause the monetary easing. Last month the bank's policy committee said there was less space for rate cuts before year end.

Erik Meyersson, Stockholm-based senior economist at Handelsbanken, said on Twitter "we can officially call it a currency crisis now" given the exchange rate has fallen more than 25% year-over-year.

Turkey's currency crisis in 2018 led to a recession and subsequent below-average economic growth that was exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

While the economy is expected to grow nearly 10% this year on strong manufacturing and exports and a rebound in tourism, the lira devaluation drives up companies' cost of servicing its foreign-currency debt.

Dennis Shen, director of the sovereign and public sector at Scope Ratings, called this a "severe problem" given the private sector's net $124 billion in foreign liabilities and the government's 58% foreign outstanding debt - "a share that continues rising as the currency depreciates."

The "weakening lira is exacerbated by existing extensive economic mismanagement, driven by (the) consolidation of power of President Erdogan," he said.

The lira has also been hit over the last week by the dollar firming after higher-than-expected U.S. inflation data.

Odile Renaud-Basso, president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, told Reuters investors need to see a clear and credible policy framework in Turkey.

She had raised the issue of very high inflation with Erdogan during a visit last week, Renaud-Basso added. read more

Additional reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen, Ezgi Erkoyun and Rodrigo Campos; Editing by Jan Harvey, William Maclean

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Record low Turkish lira teeters on the edge as rate cuts sting - Reuters
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