Stock Markets March 12, 2026

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
Istanbul market closes higher as select cyclical sectors lead gains

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.

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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