LONDON/ISTANBUL, Oct 12 (Reuters) – An arm of Citigroup
(C.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and two other investors are mulling a sale of copycat
drugmaker Biofarma, people familiar with the matter said, in
what could be Turkey’s biggest healthcare deal.

The generic drugmaker, whose full name is Biofarma
Pharmaceutical Industry Co Inc, has met investment bankers and
is close to picking advisers to help prepare the company for a
$500 million-plus sale, these people added. One said it could be
worth nearly $1 billion.

ISTANBUL, Sept 30 (Reuters) – Turkish lender Akbank
(AKBNK.IS: Quote, Profile, Research) may increase its loan and deposit rates by 30-32
basis points to offset recent exit strategy moves by the
central bank raising reserve requirements and halting payments
on lira reserves, its chief executive told Reuters.

Akbank’s CEC Ziya Akkurt said the whole banking sector
would see profits hit by Turkey’s central bank moves, part of
its previously announced programme to exit from financial
crisis-induced measures that had boosted liquidity.

ISTANBUL, Sept 30 (Reuters) – Templeton Asset Management’s
Mark Mobius considers Turkey one of his top emerging markets,
and is set to add another $250 million-300 million to the $1
billion he already has invested in the rapidly-growing
country.

Mobius told Reuters in an interview the country’s low
inflation rates, young and increasingly higher-spending
population, and strong banking sector made it an attractive
market.

ISTANBUL/FRANKFURT, Sept 28 (Reuters) – The European Central
Bank is still in the process of phasing out its emergency
lending measures, policymakers said on Tuesday, despite a recent
extension of the central bank’s liquidity lifelines.

ECB Executive Board member Juergen Stark said the ECB had
already decided not to renew some of its liquidity support past
the end of the year, when the next decision on the supply of
funds is due.

ISTANBUL/FRANKFURT (Reuters) – The European Central Bank is still in the process of phasing out its emergency lending measures, policymakers said on Tuesday, despite a recent extension of the central bank’s liquidity lifelines.

ECB Executive Board member Juergen Stark said the ECB had already decided not to renew some of its liquidity support past the end of the year, when the next decision on the supply of funds is due.

ISTANBUL, Sept 12 (Reuters) – Turkish assets looked set to
rally on Monday after Turks backed government reforms in a
referendum on Sunday by a much larger margin than expected,
signalling strong support for Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.

A “yes” vote of 58 percent suggested that Erdogan’s AK
Party would likely win a third-term in parliamentary elections
next year with a clear majority, analysts said, an outcome they
view as most supportive to continued reform and growth in
Turkey. [ID:nLDE68B01J] [ID:nIST007191]

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A clear majority of Turks will give their backing in a referendum on Sunday to constitutional reforms proposed by the government, a polling institute said in an eve-of-vote boost for Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.

A survey by KONDA institute said the reforms, including controversial changes to the judiciary, would pass with a “yes” vote of 56.8 percent in Sunday’s plebiscite, seen as a key gauge of Erdogan’s support before a parliamentary election next year.

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – From the bustling streets of Istanbul to the villages of central Anatolia, one question dominates campaigning for Sunday’s constitutional referendum. What kind of Turkey awaits the country’s burgeoning young generation?

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan says government-backed reforms to a charter rooted in a 1980 military coup will strengthen civil society and bring Turkey closer to European norms. For the two-thirds of Turks under 32, it secures a democratic future.

By Alexandra Hudson and Omer Berberoglu

ISTANBUL (Reuters Life!) – An Istanbul seminary closed in 1971 is hosting its first public event in 40 years, raising hopes it may shortly be reopened by Turkey and once again educate priests for the Greek Orthodox community.

The European Union and the United States have pressed EU membership hopeful Turkey to reopen the historic school, which occupies a beautiful and commanding site at the top of the island of Heybeliada, or Halki in Greek.