By Tuba Sahin
ANKARA
Turkey's benchmark stock index fell by 2.74 percent to 94,543.27 points with a trading volume of around 7.2 billion Turkish liras ($1.42 billion) in the closing session on Thursday.
Borsa Istanbul's BIST 100 index ended the day with a 2,667.3-point fall from Wednesday's close of 97,210.57 points, while it opened the day at 95,518.18 points.
The benchmark index hovered between 94,153.27 points and 95,518.18 points, while 4 stocks on the index were on the rise, 95 on the decline, and one flat compared to the previous close.
The total market value of listed shares on the BIST 100 was 621.99 billion liras ($126.36 billion) at the close, while the banking and holding sector indices decreased 4.47 percent and 2.98 percent, respectively.
Among all sectors, the basic metal sector index was the only sector index that recorded an increase, going up 1.43 percent, and the telecommunication sector index saw the biggest drop, losing 6.36 percent.
Stocks of Soda Sanayii, part of Turkey's Sisecam, a top international glass manufacturer, were the top gainer -- rising 4.20 percent -- while shares of the energy and construction company Isiklar Enerji Yapi Holding saw the biggest drop, falling 7.41 percent.
The BIST 100's most-traded listed companies were national flag carrier Turkish Airlines, defense company Aselsan, private lender Garanti, iron/steel producer Kardemir and state lender Halkbank.
The USD/TRY exchange rate rose to 5.0550 as of 5 p.m. local time (1400GMT) Thursday, compared with 4.9220 at Wednesday's close.
The euro/lira exchange rate also increased to 5.8850 by market close, versus 5.7520 at the previous close, and one British pound traded for 6.6080 Turkish liras, compared with 6.4680 at Wednesday's close.
In Borsa Istanbul's Precious Metals and Diamond Markets, an ounce of gold traded for $1,214.00 as of 4.30 p.m. local time (1330GMT) Thursday, compared with $1,222.00 at the previous close.
The price of Brent oil rose to $72.77 per barrel as of 6 p.m. (1500GMT) Thursday, from $72.39 at Wednesday's close.
