Stock Markets March 12, 2026 11:30 AM

Istanbul market closes higher as select cyclical sectors lead gains

BIST 100 rises 0.65% with top advances in travel, polyester and retail names; banks weigh on the downside

By Avery Klein

Turkey's equity benchmark finished higher after the close on Thursday, supported by gains in the Chemical, Petroleum & Plastic, Insurance and Electricity sectors. The BIST 100 added 0.65% at the close in Istanbul. Small- and mid-cap movers led the session's notable winners while several large banking names posted the largest losses. Commodity markets were mixed, with crude and Brent advancing sharply and gold retreating. USD/TRY and EUR/TRY moved in opposite directions.

Istanbul market closes higher as select cyclical sectors lead gains

Key Points

  • BIST 100 closed up 0.65% after the close on Thursday, led by gains in Chemical, Petroleum & Plastic, Insurance and Electricity sectors.
  • Top individual advancers included TUREX (+10.00% to 7.81), SASA (+10.00% to 2.42) and KLRHO (+9.98% to 197.20); major decliners included HALKB (-5.24% to 44.14), VAKBN (-4.84% to 33.80) and RALYH (-3.56% to 138.20).
  • Commodities were mixed: gold fell, while crude oil and Brent rose sharply; USD/TRY ticked up while EUR/TRY edged down.

Summary: Turkey's stock market ended the trading day higher after the close on Thursday, with sector strength concentrated in Chemical, Petroleum & Plastic, Insurance and Electricity names. The BIST 100 closed up 0.65% in Istanbul.

Market close and sector drivers

The BIST 100 gained 0.65% at the close on Thursday, as advances in several cyclical and utility-related sectors supported the index. The Chemical, Petroleum & Plastic, Insurance and Electricity sectors were cited as the primary contributors to the upward move.

Top performers

  • Tureks Turizm Tasimacilik AS (IS:TUREX) rose 10.00% or 0.71 points to finish at 7.81.
  • SASA Polyester Sanayi AS (IS:SASA) added 10.00% or 0.22 points to close at 2.42.
  • Kiler Holding AS (IS:KLRHO) climbed 9.98% or 17.90 points to 197.20 in late trade.

Largest decliners

  • Turkiye Halk Bankasi (IS:HALKB) slipped 5.24% or 2.44 points to end at 44.14.
  • Turkiye Vakiflar Bankasi TAO (IS:VAKBN) dropped 4.84% or 1.72 points to 33.80.
  • Ral Yatirim Holding AS (IS:RALYH) fell 3.56% or 5.10 points to 138.20.

Market breadth was positive on the Istanbul Stock Exchange, with 324 rising issues versus 269 decliners; 21 stocks finished unchanged.

Commodities and FX

In commodities trading, Gold Futures for April delivery moved lower, retreating 0.85% or 43.94 to $5,135.16 a troy ounce. Oil prices advanced sharply: crude for April delivery rose 10.67% or 9.31 to $96.56 a barrel, while the May Brent contract increased 9.90% or 9.11 to $101.09 a barrel.

On the foreign exchange front, USD/TRY was up 0.12% at 44.12, while EUR/TRY declined 0.13% to 50.97. The US Dollar Index Futures was higher, up 0.44% at 99.66.

Context and closing

The session's winners were concentrated among several sector-specific names, with the Chemical, Petroleum & Plastic, Insurance and Electricity groups cited as driving the index higher. At the same time, several banking stocks recorded the steepest losses among individual securities on the session.

Risks

  • Concentration of gains in specific sectors (Chemical, Petroleum & Plastic, Insurance, Electricity) could expose the market to sector-specific volatility, affecting sector-linked stocks.
  • Notable weakness among banking names (HALKB, VAKBN) presents downside risk for financial sector performance and could weigh on overall market sentiment if bank declines persist.
  • Large moves in commodity prices, namely the sharp rise in crude and Brent and the drop in gold, introduce price risk that can influence commodity-linked equities and broader market flows.

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