Turkey’s Nightclub Spotlight Spleen
Turkish shares and the lira continued with double digit losses at the rear of the major emerging market pack as a New Year’s nightclub assault added to a string of mass casualty incidents claimed by ISIS and Kurdish rebels, following third quarter figures showing the economy in recession after the failed coup attempt and tens of thousands of arrests. Government and military officials were fired and detained in the first crackdown phase, which has since extended to business executives tied to exiled opposition leader Gulen, allegedly the putsch mastermind with US support. President Erdogan promised no letup in the anti-terrorism campaign at the same time he is preparing a referendum on expanded constitutional powers, which Deputy Prime Minister Simsek in charge of economic policy lauds for longer-term political stability after absorbing millions of Syrian refugees and increased internal and external security threats. The currency was last year’s worst performer with a 17 percent dollar decline, and the central bank must contend with possible return to 10 percent inflation as depositors switch to foreign exchange accounts, and companies face a $200 billion mismatch in overseas borrowing which may curtail smooth rollovers since the 2013 “taper tantrum.” The lira also sank then but the benchmark interest rate was hiked 4 percent to restore confidence, an option dismissed by the President’s team who call for lower costs and domestic currency embrace in the name of patriotism. Officials have tried to loosen dollar and euro liquidity through technical measures, while the chronic 5 percent of GDP current account deficit must be financed as foreign investors slash local bond positions. On the stock market allocation has been confined to big dollar earning listings that can also steer clear of Gulenist connections and suspicions, and their US ADRs have suffered further on uncertain diplomatic relations with the new Washington administration, despite a Trump Tower joint venture version in Istanbul. President Trump is however expected to back Cyprus reunification as a longstanding goal, with the island’s two sides continuing negotiations in Geneva. A breakthrough could reduce fiscal aid pressures on Ankara, as the Greek part emerges from its EU bailout with the biggest bank repaying emergency funds. Both countries are otherwise at odds as Turkey demands the extradition of generals who fled to Athens after the coup, against resistance from Greek human rights activists.
The lira lurch has been matched only by Mexico’s peso’s plunge, underway since the central bank governor described proposed Trump trade and immigration steps as a “horror film.” It intervened as the level passed 20/dollar, but immediately usable reserves may be in the $15-20 billion range with a large IMF contingency credit line untapped. Following Presidential hectoring to keep jobs at home Ford Motor reversed course about a $1.5 billion Mexican plant, triggering downgrades in 2017 FDI projections to around $30 billion. To mollify cross-border tensions, President Pena Nieto named his former Finance Minister, who resigned under a cloud of sweetheart housing deals, as Foreign Minister after Trump praised him during a controversial campaign visit. GDP growth this year will be just 2 percent and energy prices were raised in line with Pemex reforms at the beginning of January to public outcry. Perennial presidential contender AMLO has benefited from the backlash to emerge as the frontrunner for the 2018 vote, but he squandered big margins before and could again hit his own wall.
