Dollar / TL parity increases to 6,99

Turkish lira is at 7.58 level against euro, the weakest level since August 2018.

Turkey's central government budget posted 43.7 billion lira deficit in March, from 7.36 billion lira in February, showing new spending and lower tax revenues amid coronavirus pandemic.

In its semi-annual World Economic Outlook, IMF estimates Turkey's economy to contract 5 percent in 2020

Although Turkish government has not imposed a nationwide stay-at-home order, it has closed all education institutions, shuttered many businesses, closed its borders, halted much intercity travel and ordered weekend lockdowns in order to contain the spread of the pandemic in the country. (ILKHA)