The lira: built to last

One would think the headline driver for the lira is the possible war in Iraq. But the Iraq threat cuts both ways, in that Turkey’s strategic importance and alliance with the US guarantees IMF and US support (under virtually any election scenario). So while the uncertainty of the war looms -- its timing and ramifications for the Turkish economy -- market agents ponder other considerations. The most important of these being the general election scheduled for November 3.

There are supporting factors