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Friday, October 23, 2026English edition
The Geopolitician

Country risk, from the local press

Turkey · Country watch

Istanbul Road Closures, Turkey-Canada Trade Talks

Istanbul announces road closures for Republic Day; Turkey and Canada set trade talks for November.

The picture Mixed How this is judged →

Business conditions in Turkey are mixed today. Istanbul's road closures disrupt logistics, while upcoming trade talks with Canada offer potential benefits. Borsa Istanbul's sell-off pressure continues to challenge investors.

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In this briefing Istanbul · Borsa Istanbul · Turkey · Canada

Regulation

Nothing significant reported today.

Disruption

  • Logistics

Istanbul announces road closures for Republic Day

Aerial view of the historical peninsula and modern skyline of Istanbul
Aerial view of the historical peninsula and modern skyline of Istanbul Hunanuk, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons

Istanbul will close several roads on 24 and 29 October for Republic Day celebrations and rehearsals, according to STAR. The Istanbul Governor's Office announced alternative routes for drivers, with 111 personnel deployed for traffic management. The closures aim to facilitate smooth conduct of the events, but may cause significant disruptions in city traffic, affecting logistics and daily commutes.

Impact Logistics operators and commuters in Istanbul face disruptions due to road closures on 24 and 29 October.

Sources: STAR ↗

Internal tension

Nothing significant reported today.

Safety & health

Nothing significant reported today.

Companies

Nothing significant reported today.

Markets

  • Finance

Borsa Istanbul sees significant sell-off pressure

Borsa Istanbul's BIST 100 index dropped to 10,800 points, erasing all gains for the year, Cumhuriyet reports. The index faced heavy sell-off pressure amid ongoing fund investigations and global oil market shocks. Despite attempts to recover, investor confidence remains low, with concerns over market stability persisting.

Impact Investors in Turkish equities face increased volatility and potential losses as Borsa Istanbul struggles with sell-off pressure.

Sources: Cumhuriyet.com.tr: Son Dakika ↗

Trade

  • Public sector

Turkey and Canada to start trade talks in November

Turkey and Canada will begin negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement in Ankara from 30 November to 4 December, according to Anadolu Agency. The Canadian Prime Minister's Office announced that a high-level trade delegation will visit Turkey in 2027 as part of the ongoing strategic partnership discussions. The talks aim to enhance bilateral trade relations and economic cooperation.

Impact Exporters and importers in Turkey could benefit from expanded trade opportunities with Canada starting from November.

Watch Trade talks begin on 30 November in Ankara. · 30 November 2026

Sources: Anadolu Agency ↗

Politics

Nothing significant reported today.

Also today in Turkey

Sources in this briefing

Sources: each headline links to the original article on the publisher's site.

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The same day elsewhere