Stock Markets February 20, 2026

Istanbul Stocks Finish Higher as BIST 100 Advances 0.94% on Friday

Leasing, IT and broader technology names push benchmark higher while select heavyweights post sharp moves

By Ajmal Hussain
Istanbul Stocks Finish Higher as BIST 100 Advances 0.94% on Friday

The Istanbul Borsa closed higher on Friday, with the BIST 100 up 0.94% as gains in the Leasing & Factoring, Information Technology and Technology sectors drove the market. Destek Finans Faktoring reached a record high, while several names on the downside pressured specific segments. Key commodity and FX benchmarks showed mixed moves alongside the equity session.

Key Points

  • BIST 100 closed up 0.94% in Istanbul on Friday, with Leasing & Factoring, Information Technology and Technology sectors supporting gains.
  • Top performers included Destek Finans Faktoring (IS:DSTKF) which reached an all-time high, Izdemir Enerji (IS:IZENR) and Aksa Akrilik (IS:AKSA).
  • Market breadth favored rising stocks with 401 advancers versus 182 decliners; key commodity and FX indicators moved mixedly, including higher April gold and weaker April crude and Brent.

Turkey's main stock index ended the trading week in positive territory on Friday, with the BIST 100 rising 0.94% at the close in Istanbul. Sector strength in Leasing & Factoring, Information Technology and Technology contributed to the advance.

Among individual movers, Destek Finans Faktoring As (IS:DSTKF) led the day's gains on the BIST 100, climbing 9.16% - an increase of 107.00 points - to finish at 1,275.00. The stock reached an all-time high during the session.

Other notable winners included Izdemir Enerji Elektrik Uretim AS (IS:IZENR), which added 6.59% or 0.60 points to close at 9.70, and Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayi AS (IS:AKSA), which rose 5.33% or 0.57 points to end the day at 11.26.

On the downside, Kiler Holding AS (IS:KLRHO) recorded the steepest decline among BIST 100 constituents, falling 7.72% or 36.75 points to close at 439.50. SASA Polyester Sanayi AS (IS:SASA) dropped 3.97% or 0.10 points to finish at 2.42, while Emlak Konut Gayrimenkul Yatirim Ortakligi AS (IS:EKGYO) was down 3.02% or 0.76 points to 24.38 by the end of trading.

Market breadth favored advancers: 401 stocks rose, 182 declined and 29 finished unchanged on the Istanbul Stock Exchange.

Commodities and FX moved in mixed fashion during the session. Gold futures for April delivery were up 0.95% or 47.44 to $5,044.84 a troy ounce. In energy markets, crude oil for April delivery fell 0.69% or 0.46 to $65.94 a barrel, while the April Brent oil contract slipped 0.71% or 0.51 to trade at $71.15 a barrel.

Currency pairs tied to the lira registered modest gains against their U.S. dollar and euro counterparts. USD/TRY increased 0.20% to 43.84 and EUR/TRY rose 0.20% to 51.73. The U.S. Dollar Index Futures was lower, down 0.24% at 97.62.


Below are concise takeaways from the session and the market data reported at the close in Istanbul on Friday.

  • Index performance - BIST 100 up 0.94% at the close.
  • Top performers - DSTKF, IZENR, AKSA.
  • Largest decliners - KLRHO, SASA, EKGYO.
  • Market breadth - 401 advancers, 182 decliners, 29 unchanged.
  • Commodities and FX - April gold higher; April crude and Brent lower; USD/TRY and EUR/TRY both up 0.20%; US Dollar Index Futures down 0.24% at 97.62.

This session's data reflects the closing prices and percentage moves reported at the end of trading in Istanbul on Friday.

Risks

  • Individual large declines among BIST 100 constituents - exemplified by Kiler Holding (IS:KLRHO) - indicate potential stock-specific downside that could affect sector sentiment, notably in retail and consumer-related segments.
  • Volatility in energy prices, with April crude and Brent both lower, presents uncertainty for energy-related companies and related sectors.
  • Currency movements - modest rises in USD/TRY and EUR/TRY - could affect companies with FX exposure, particularly those with foreign-currency-denominated liabilities or revenues.

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