No Sign Ankara Seeking IMF Aid

Turkey has not asked for any financial aid from the International Monetary Fund, the fund said in a statement Wednesday, Anadolu Agency reported. The IMF statement came after media reports that claimed Ankara was seeking funding amid a severe hit on the local currency. Late on Aug. 7, in the statement to Bloomberg News, the IMF said it “received no indication from the Turkish authorities that they are contemplating a request for financial assistance.” On its most recent staff report on Turkey related to the 2018 Article IV Consultation, the IMF called on the authorities to tighten policies and address internal and external imbalances. Meanwhile, the lira weakened against the dollar again on  Wednesday, hit by uncertainty about whether a meeting between Turkish and US officials could heal a wide diplomatic rift. The lira stood at 5.288 against the dollar in the afternoon of Aug. 8, more than 1% weaker on the day. It had gained on Aug. 7 on reports a Turkish delegation would visit Washington.