Stock Markets May 20, 2026 11:30 AM

Istanbul equities slip as tourism, leasing and paper stocks drag BIST 100 to one-month low

Benchmark index falls 0.12% after losses across several cyclical sectors; oil and gold prices retreat

By Jordan Park

Turkey's BIST 100 closed lower, down 0.12% at a fresh one-month low, as falls in the Tourism, Leasing & Factoring and Wood, Paper & Printing sectors weighed on the market. Winners included Girisim Elektrik, Pasifik Eurasia Lojistik and Europower, while Ral Yatirim, Anadolu Metal and Borusan Birlesik Boru were among the heaviest decliners. Commodity markets saw declines in gold and crude oil, and both USD/TRY and EUR/TRY inched higher.

Istanbul equities slip as tourism, leasing and paper stocks drag BIST 100 to one-month low

Key Points

  • BIST 100 declined 0.12% to a one-month low, with Tourism, Leasing & Factoring and Wood, Paper & Printing sectors among the main drags.
  • Top gainers were GESAN (+10.00%), PASEU (+10.00%) and EUPWR (+9.99%), with EUPWR reaching a 52-week high.
  • Heaviest losses included RALYH (-8.99%), TRMET (-5.22%) and BRSAN (-5.07%); decliners outnumbered advancers 406 to 196.

Turkey's main stock index ended the trading session lower on Wednesday, with the BIST 100 slipping 0.12% to register a new one-month low following sector-specific declines. The Tourism, Leasing & Factoring and Wood, Paper & Printing groups were among the principal drags on the market.

At the close in Istanbul, the benchmark declined to its lowest level in a month as selling pressure outpaced buying across the exchange. Advancing issues were outnumbered by falling stocks by a margin of 196 to 406, while 18 issues finished unchanged.

Top gainers

  • Girisim Elektrik Taahhut Ticaret & Sanayi AS (IS:GESAN) led the session's winners, jumping 10.00% or 5.80 points to close at 63.80.
  • Pasifik Eurasia Lojistik Dis Ticaret AS (IS:PASEU) also climbed 10.00%, adding 10.10 points to finish at 111.10.
  • Europower Enerji ve Otomasyon Teknolojileri Sanayi Ticaret AS (IS:EUPWR) rose 9.99% or 6.25 points to end the day at 68.80.

Europower's share move lifted it to a 52-week high, with the stock advancing 9.99% to 68.80 by late trade.

Largest decliners

  • Ral Yatirim Holding AS (IS:RALYH) posted the steepest drop, down 8.99% or 25.25 points to close at 255.50.
  • Anadolu Metal Madencilik Isletmeleri AS (IS:TRMET) fell 5.22%, losing 6.20 points to finish at 112.50.
  • Borusan Birlesik Boru Fabrikalari Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS (IS:BRSAN) declined 5.07% or 26.00 points to end at 486.50.

Market breadth was negative, with twice as many stocks retreating as advancing, reflecting the session's defensive tone.

Commodities and currency moves

Precious metals and energy both saw downward moves. Gold Futures for June delivery fell 0.59% or 26.78 to trade at $4,531.22 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for July delivery dropped 4.46% or $4.66 to $99.72 a barrel, while the July Brent contract declined 5.22% or $5.85 to $106.25 a barrel.

On the currency front, the Turkish lira weakened modestly against major currencies in overnight moves: USD/TRY rose 0.05% to 45.60, and EUR/TRY increased 0.21% to 53.06. The US Dollar Index Futures edged down 0.08% to 99.02.

Analyst tools and stock focus

The session's coverage included a data-driven note on RALYH. ProPicks AI evaluates RALYH alongside thousands of other companies monthly using more than 100 financial metrics. The AI-based system is described as assessing fundamentals, momentum and valuation without bias, and the commentary referenced notable past winners it identified, including Super Micro Computer (+185%) and AppLovin (+157%).


Summary

The BIST 100 recorded a modest decline to a one-month low, led by losses in tourism, leasing and wood/paper related stocks, while a small group of names delivered double-digit percentage gains. Commodities and currency movements showed declines in gold and crude oil, accompanied by a slight depreciation of the lira against the dollar and euro.

Key points

  • The BIST 100 fell 0.12% to a one-month low, driven by sectoral weakness in Tourism, Leasing & Factoring and Wood, Paper & Printing.
  • Top performers included GESAN, PASEU and EUPWR; GESAN and PASEU each rose 10.00%, and EUPWR reached a 52-week high.
  • Major declines were seen in RALYH (-8.99%), TRMET (-5.22%) and BRSAN (-5.07%).

Risks and uncertainties

  • Market breadth was negative, with declining issues (406) substantially outnumbering advancers (196), which could signal broader selling pressure across sectors such as Tourism and Industrial metals.
  • Declines in commodities, notably crude oil and gold, may create additional volatility for energy-linked and commodity-sensitive Turkish firms.
  • Currency fluctuations - USD/TRY and EUR/TRY moved higher - present exchange-rate risk for companies with foreign currency exposures.

Risks

  • Negative market breadth could indicate wider selling pressure impacting cyclical sectors like Tourism and industrials.
  • Falling crude oil and gold prices may increase volatility for energy and commodity-linked companies.
  • Modest depreciation of the lira (USD/TRY and EUR/TRY up) creates exchange-rate risk for firms with foreign-currency liabilities or revenues.

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