Aug 13, 2018 - Economy & Business

Turkish currency crisis stokes fear in world markets

Pedestrians pass by a foreign exchange office on Istiklal Street in Istanbul, Turkey. Photo: Diego Cupolo/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The MSCI world equity index, which tracks markets in 47 countries, is down 1.7% since Friday as the Turkish lira hit another record low against the dollar Monday morning, prompting fears of contagion to other currencies, reports Reuters.

The big picture: Turkey's central bank vowed to take "all necessary measures" to stabilize the lira, but investors have not been reassured. The euro hit a 13-month low against the dollar, while emerging market currencies like South Africa's rand (down 2.7%) and Mexico's peso (down 1.9%) have also suffered.

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