The analysts noted that despite the economic recession and expectations of a decrease in asset quality, the strong capital structure and profitability of Turkish banks will help them maintain their financial health in the near future. Analysts, drawing attention to the good financial strength ratings of Turkish banks, stressed that the banks perform better than their European counterparts in the face of worsening global market conditions.
According to the same analysts, measures taken in previous financial and political crises are playing an important role in Turkish banks’ successful fight against the recent crisis. The banks, having only borrowed limited amounts from international organizations, were unaffected by the drop in global liquidity and financial trouble facing Gulf countries, they argued.
Moreover, credit default swap (CDS) prices have started to fall in Turkey. In the wake of the crisis in Dubai, CDS prices in Turkey also fell below those in Greece. The analysts stressed that interest rates in Turkey did not rise much, contrary to the situation in countries such as Ukraine, Hungary and Romania, where interest rates remain high despite the fact that these countries are following International Monetary Fund (IMF) programs. Pundits also warn that the crisis in Dubai might result in a decline in foreign capital investments in emerging markets.
Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, in an assessment of the recently erupted crisis in Dubai, noted that even though the countries with the strongest economies can still experience some difficulties, Turkey has left the worst of the crisis behind itself and shows signs of economic recovery. The minister said he believes the Turkish economy will start growing rapidly again by 2010.
