The BIST 100 index in Borsa Istanbul rose by 0.5 percent in the first half of the day, reaching 9,698 points.

During the first half of the day, the BIST 100 index showed an upward trend, rising to 9,697.92 points with an increase of 48.38 points and 0.5 percent as of 13.00. The total trading volume was 56.7 billion lira. While the banking index lost 0.94 percent, the holding index gained 0.63 percent. Among sector indices, the highest gainer was financial leasing factoring with 4.61 percent, while the only loser was banking. In the global markets, a mixed course was observed after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a 25 percent customs duty would be imposed on all cars not produced in the U.S., with focus now on the U.S. growth data to be announced today. According to the data released domestically today, the foreign trade deficit increased by 14.8 percent to $7.771 billion in February compared to the same month last year, while the unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 8.2 percent. Analysts noted that afternoon weekly money and banking statistics domestically and U.S. growth, personal consumption expenditures, pending home sales, and wholesale merchandise inventories internationally would be followed, stating that technically the resistance levels for the BIST 100 index are at 9,900 and 10,000 while the support levels are at 9,600 and 9,500 points.