LOCAL NEWS

• A verdict is expected today in the Gezi trial, which started hearings after the Court of Appeal overturned the acquittal verdicts. The case of businessman Osman Kavala and architect Ayse Mucella Yapici will be heard today – BirGun
• Erdogan says he will host a phone call with Dutch & Spanish PMs before the 24 March NATO Summit to discuss Ukraine and bilateral trade relations.
  • This is the first in-person summit since the conflict broke out and sources say an Erdogan-Biden meeting is envisaged, but not confirmed. Rutte described Turkey as a very important ally within NATO, calling on the EU to engage more with Turkey – Hurriyet Daily
• Turkey energy supplier Botas say that in parallel with the recent price increases in international markets for natural gas, a new price hike is expected at the beginning of April, hitting up to 30% for industrial users. Botas said it could not absorb some of the impact of higher prices as the recent price increases are permanent – Dunya
• Commercial loans hit 20-month high at 28.07%, while consumer loans grew at 14.53% with analysts warning of risks to uncontrolled rises in inflation. The 13-week annualized growth of total loans in the banking sector, adjusted for exchange rate effects, was 28.09% as of the week of March 11, private banks stood out with a growth of 31.54%. – Dunya

Data:

• 0800GMT: Foreign Tourist Arrivals, 151.4% prior