Stock Markets May 18, 2026 11:30 AM

Turkish equities slip as basic metals, retail and power stocks lead declines

BIST 100 falls 2.35% to a one-month low as broader market weakness outpaces gains in select names

By Priya Menon

Turkey's main stock index closed lower on Monday, dragged down by losses in Basic Metals, Wholesale & Retail Trade and Electricity sectors. The BIST 100 fell 2.35% to a one-month low. While a handful of stocks posted double-digit percentage gains, several heavyweight industrial and metals names recorded sharp declines. Commodities and FX moves were mixed, with oil up and gold and the dollar index down.

Turkish equities slip as basic metals, retail and power stocks lead declines

Key Points

  • BIST 100 declined 2.35% to a one-month low, led by losses in Basic Metals, Wholesale & Retail Trade and Electricity sectors.
  • Top gainers included Izdemir Enerji (IS:IZENR) up 9.96% to a 52-week high, Qua Granite (IS:QUAGR) up 4.83%, and Fenerbahce Futbol (IS:FENER) up 4.48%.
  • Major declines were recorded in Hektas (IS:HEKTS) down 9.80%, Sarkuysan (IS:SARKY) down 7.11%, and Kardemir (IS:KRDMD) down 6.62%. Commodities and FX showed mixed moves with oil higher and gold and the dollar index lower.

Turkey's equity market finished in negative territory on Monday, with the headline BIST 100 index retreating and registering a fresh one-month trough. Sector-level weakness in Basic Metals, Wholesale & Retail Trade and Electricity was the primary drag on the session.

At the close in Istanbul the BIST 100 declined 2.35%, closing at a new one-month low.

Several stocks bucked the broader downtrend. The top performers on the BIST 100 included Izdemir Enerji Elektrik Uretim AS (IS:IZENR), which climbed 9.96% - a gain of 1.11 points - to finish at 12.25. Qua Granite Hayal Yapi ve Urunleri Sanayi Ticaret AS (IS:QUAGR) rose 4.83%, adding 0.17 points to close at 3.69, and Fenerbahce Futbol AS (IS:FENER) gained 4.48%, an increase of 0.16 points, ending the day at 3.73.

Offsets to those advances were concentrated among industrial and metals names. The laggards on the session were Hektas Ticaret TAS (IS:HEKTS), which slid 9.80% or 0.45 points to close at 4.14; Sarkuysan Elektrolitik Bakir Sanayi ve Ticaret AS (IS:SARKY), down 7.11% or 2.22 points to 29.00; and Kardemir Karabuk Demir Celik Sanayi ve Ticaret AS Class D (IS:KRDMD), which fell 6.62% or 2.78 points to 39.20.

Market breadth was skewed to the downside on the Istanbul Stock Exchange, with 477 decliners versus 128 advancers and 14 stocks finishing unchanged.

Izdemir Enerji Elektrik Uretim AS (IS:IZENR) notched a notable milestone during the session, rising to a 52-week high as it recorded the 9.96% advance to 12.25.

Commodities trading showed mixed results. Gold Futures for June delivery fell 0.49% or 22.15, closing at $4,539.75 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for July delivery strengthened 1.97% or 1.99 to $103.01 a barrel, while the July Brent contract gained 1.58% or 1.73 to trade at $110.99 a barrel.

Currency moves were modest: USD/TRY was up 0.20% at 45.58, and EUR/TRY rose 0.32% to 53.06. The US Dollar Index Futures was down 0.17%, trading at 99.04 by the close.


Context and market implications

The session reflected concentrated selling pressure in basic metals and related industrial names, alongside weakness in wholesale and retail trade and electricity sector stocks. Those sectors contributed materially to the BIST 100's decline, even as individual energy and consumer-related names produced gains.

For market participants tracking production rates, backlog conversion and vendor dynamics, the moves among metals and industrial shares may warrant attention, given potential implications for cash flow and working capital if selling pressure persists.

Risks

  • Concentrated weakness in Basic Metals and industrial names could translate into operational and working-capital stress for companies in those sectors if selling continues - impacting the industrials and metals sectors.
  • Broader market declines and negative breadth increase volatility risk for portfolio positions, particularly in small- and mid-cap shares within Wholesale & Retail Trade and Electricity - affecting retail and power sector exposures.
  • Commodity price swings, with oil up and gold down, introduce uncertainty for energy and hedging strategies that rely on stable input costs - affecting energy and materials sectors.

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