Standard & Poor's: Turkish banks can withstand moderate volatility

Turkish banks are now better placed overall to withstand expected asset quality pressures given their adequate provision and capital buffers, according to U.S.-based credit rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) on Thursday."We consider that Turkish banks are now better placed overall to withstand some moderate volatility in their operating environment, having strengthened their foundations since the unprecedented political and financial crisis in 2001," said S&P's report entitled, "Political and funding risks cloud prospects for Turkish banks in 2014." However, S&P believe that domestic political tensions, upcoming elections, and the federal reserve's ongoing tapering of its bond-buying are increasing uncertainties for Turkish banks.S&P forecasts that Turkish banks will pay a higher premium for their foreign borrowings in 2014. “In addition, we believe that interest margins will come under further pressure, notably in the first half of 2014, following the central bank's sharp interest rate hike in January in a bid to stabilize the lira's slide against hard currencies,” the agency said.On January 28, the Central Bank more than doubled its borrowing rate from 3.5 percent to 8 percent, and raised the lending rate from 7.75 percent to 12 percent.The agency said that there are two main risks for the Turkish banking sector. “We continue to see two main risks, the indirect credit risks stemming from the larger open foreign exchange positions of the Turkish private sector and Turkish banks' increased reliance on foreign debt, in particular short-term debt. While the first factor can result in a higher cost of risk (that is, net new loan provisions to total loans) for rated Turkish banks, the latter could potentially limit the availability of foreign funding through 2014 and make it more expensive.”The report also said that higher interest rates, higher credit losses, and the slowdown in lending will eat into Turkish banks' earnings in 2014.