Monday, September 21 News Digest

✧ One Portföy Manager Cenk Akyoldaş stated that fund liquidations and liquidity needs could increase volatility in the stock market until the end of the year, emphasizing 13,000 points as a critical threshold for the BIST 100. Proposing the suspension of public offerings to restore confidence, Akyoldaş expressed that the base formation in gold and silver has been completed and interest in these metals may increase in the last quarter.

✧ According to a Goldman Sachs report, following outflows from money market funds, investors rapidly redirected their money to TRY deposits. While TRY deposits increased by approximately $20 billion in September, the CBRT's (Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey) gross reserves decreased by $9 billion in a week to $180 billion as of September 17. The excessive liquidity surplus in the system continues.

✧ Syrian President Sharaa is attending the UN General Assembly this time with questions of increasing poverty, fuel price hikes, and economic crisis rather than diplomatic recognition. While Gulf support is of critical importance for Syria's reconstruction; the threat posed by Houthi militias in Yemen to energy lines and neighboring countries increases regional costs, directly affecting Syria as well. It is said that the only way to lasting stability from Syria to Yemen is the weakening of militias, the centralization of decisions on war and peace, and the implementation of the "one state, one army, one weapon" principle.

✧ Novo Nordisk's new obesity and diabetes drug CagriSema outperformed Eli Lilly's rival drug by providing a 12.4 percent weight loss in a study conducted on diabetic patients. The drug, which offers a 21 percent weight loss in obese adults, is expected to be the company's most important strategic product against the expiration of Wegovy patents, with the FDA decision expected in the last quarter of the year.

✧ According to an AirAdvisor review, the in-cabin pet limit in most European airlines is applied as 8 kg, including the carrier. Cabin fees range from 35 to 250 euros, while cargo compartment fees vary between 50 and 750 euros. Companies such as Aegean, Air France-KLM, Finnair, Lufthansa, and SAS accept animals into their cabins provided they are in a carrier, while Finnair also allows different species such as rabbits and hedgehogs.

✧ While artificial intelligence security warnings are discussed in Washington, the main agenda in the US consists of technology competition with China, employment, and data centers. Following the focus of voters' and reactions to Trump's posts on data centers and electricity costs, the House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at protecting consumer bills. Meanwhile, OpenAI announced that it will not hold an initial public offering (IPO) this year.

✧ Bitcoin surged to $85,229 on Monday, reaching its highest level since January 29, and reignited debates in the market that the "crypto winter" is over. While Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan stated that "crypto spring has arrived" for the leading cryptocurrency, which had retreated after peaking at $126,000 in October 2025, BTIG analysts predict that the price could advance towards $90,000 if the $75,000 support is maintained.

✧ US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the "US-China Dialogues" mechanism, covering artificial intelligence risks and security issues with China, has been formalized. Bessent also reported that, within the framework of expanded sanctions, the worldwide operations of Iranian airline companies will be blocked starting September 23, and those doing business with these companies will face the risk of being excluded from the global financial system.

✧ Former Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Burhan Özfatura passed away at the hospital where he was receiving treatment following a sudden cardiac arrest.

✧ The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) is preparing a new disciplinary system modeled after England against the increasing criticism of referees and the Central Referee Board (MHK) in the Super Lig. In the new system, suspensions will be applied exponentially in addition to fines, and penalties for statements aimed at putting referees under pressure, especially before matches, will be doubled.

✧ Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that preparations are underway for a new 15.2-kilometer-long tram line with 19 stations that will connect Gar Square to Serdivan via university campuses. Groundbreaking preparations are continuing for the project, the contract for which was signed on August 25.

✧ Chinese Sunwoda's new 15C LFP battery system can charge electric vehicles from 10% to 97% in just 9 minutes at room temperature. In minus 20-degree cold weather, this time increases to 15 minutes. Offering a 10-year or 300,000-kilometer warranty, the system comes with AI-supported early fault detection and a 10,000-megawatt charging station ecosystem planned to be established by the end of 2027.

✧ The Istanbul Governor's Office issued a flood and inundation warning for heavy downpours and thunderstorms expected to be effective from tomorrow (Tuesday, September 22) morning until Wednesday evening. With the precipitation, temperatures are estimated to drop 5 to 7 degrees below seasonal norms, while the wind is expected to blow strongly at a speed of 30-50 km/h.

✧ Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Spokesperson Hossein Mohebi announced that in the event of a possible new attack against Iran, previously unused new weapons, different targets, and changing counter-attack methods will be put into action. Stating that US intelligence centers are within the IRGC's range, Mohebi emphasized that the country is preparing for a prolonged conflict.

✧ In the investigation regarding the death of MİT officer Kaşif Kozinoğlu, Sedat Savtak, who played the character 'Kazım Kaşifoğlu' in the TV series Kurtlar Vadisi Pusu, will testify as a "person with knowledge of the matter." Within the scope of the investigation, allegations of possible FETÖ propaganda and covert messages in the series are also being examined by an expert committee.

✧ Fuel prices in Europe broke records as conflicts in the Middle East shook the oil supply; the per-liter price of diesel in France rose to 2.41 euros. While Brent crude oil is hovering above $100, the rising cost of living strains households and increases concerns of yellow vest-style protests.

✧ DEM Party Ağrı Deputy Sırrı Sakık stated that Selahattin Demirtaş, whom he visited in Edirne, is a key figure for the peace process. Emphasizing that the freedom of imprisoned politicians should not be tied to a framework law, Sakık demanded the implementation of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and Constitutional Court decisions and the fulfillment of their requirements.

✧ Computer scientist Manoj Gupta improved the 1996-patented method that estimates the shortest distance between two points in large networks. The new algorithm has been expanded to provide a 2-fold error guarantee for closely located point pairs while preserving the execution time; for now, it bears the nature of a theoretical advancement rather than a commercial product.

✧ The Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Agency (SEDDK) announced that as of September 21, 2026, judicial actions have been taken against numerous suspects within the scope of the investigation into illegal structures that gain unfair profits by abusing traffic accident compensation processes. The institution emphasized that inspections will continue with determination until these structures that victimize citizens are completely dismantled.

✧ While the magnitude 5 earthquake that occurred in Adana's Saimbeyli district brought the Savrun Fault Zone and active fault lines in the region such as Ecemiş, Karaisalı-Karsantı, and Karataş-Osmaniye to the agenda, AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority) and local authorities reported that no negative situations were detected in initial field scans.

✧ The Russian Ministry of Finance is preparing legislative changes to regulate the tax accounting of expenditures directed towards defense and the reconstruction of facilities. Deputy Minister Alexey Sazanov stated that the regulations could be implemented this autumn and will affect a wide group of sectors. On the other hand, it was stated that decisions regarding a possible excess profit tax for companies will become clear during the budget process in the autumn.

✧ The CHP (Republican People's Party) submitted a motion for a parliamentary investigation to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) for a thorough examination of the process known as the "fund crisis" in the stock market, which has been developing since the last quarter of 2025. While the motion alleged that the Capital Markets Board (SPK) and relevant institutions were aware of the situation beforehand but did not take timely action; it demanded the remedy of investors' grievances, the identification of those who made unfair profits, and the opening of the liquidation process to parliamentary oversight.

✧ Apple and Google Cloud have published new job postings for stablecoin and blockchain technologies. While Apple is looking for a strategy and business development expert for consumer financial products covering Apple Pay, Apple Cash, and new payment models; Google Cloud aims to employ expert staff in the fields of blockchain infrastructure, transaction signing systems, tokenization, and institutional digital asset infrastructure.

✧ US President Donald Trump announced that an indefinite agreement has been reached between the US, Denmark, and Greenland regarding the security of the island, granting the US the right to establish a permanent military presence and base on the island, and further stated that third countries will not be able to engage in military activities or make sensitive investments in the region without their approval.

✧ Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that navigational safety in the Black Sea is an integral part of the political dialogue conducted with Turkey, announcing that they are working in close contact with Ankara. This statement came after Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan's remarks that Turkey had presented proposals to Russia and Ukraine aimed at ending the conflicts in the Black Sea and was awaiting a response.

✧ The Ministry of Interior announced that as a result of the investigations carried out on foreigners wishing to acquire Turkish citizenship through investment, the eligibility certificates of 1,150 investors and the citizenship decisions of a total of 5,391 people, together with their family members, were canceled on the grounds that transactions were made with fake and irregular appraisal reports. In addition, while the citizenship of 743 individuals deemed objectionable in terms of national security and public order was revoked, another 1,070 people who were determined to have gained irregular citizenship through collusive sales were identified within the scope of the latest investigation carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

✧ The process of integrating the KDP-affiliated 80th Unit and the PUK-affiliated 70th Unit under the Ministry of Peshmerga in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has been completed. With the new structure, all Peshmerga forces have been gathered under a single roof, and officials evaluated this step as an important stage in the name of institutionalization and national unity.

✧ Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan evaluated Turkey-US relations and regional developments at a panel in New York, stating that the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, established under the leadership of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, is an important step in terms of regional ownership and security cooperation. Responding to criticisms of the alliance by citing the Yemen crisis as an example, Fidan emphasized that the structure is still very new. Fidan also expressed that the political will between President Erdoğan and US President Trump has accelerated bilateral relations, that obstacles to the $100 billion trade target must be removed, and that the resolution process in the F-35 and CAATSA issues is ongoing; he also drew attention to peace and navigational safety efforts in Syria, Gaza, Ukraine, and the Black Sea.

✧ The Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) detected a new financial movement within the scope of the stock market fund investigation and decided to halt a single-transaction of 2 billion TRY executed by Hedef Investment Bank.

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