Turkish stock market hits record high on EU membership hopes

ISTANBUL, Dec 13 (AFP) - The Istanbul stock exchange closed at a record high Monday as investors anticipated the European Union would decide this week to launch accession talks on Turkey's bid to join the bloc.
The benchmark index IMKB-100 galloped ahead 691 points, or 3.01 percent, to close at 23,634.75 points.
The previous all-time high, also propelled by a wave of optimism on EU entry, was set on November 24, when the IMKB-100 hit 23,516.34 points.
Leaders of the 25-state EU will meet Thursday and Friday in Brussels to decide whether to begin accession talks with the Muslim-majority country.
The Turkish government wants the talks to begin in the first half of 2005.

12/13/2004 15:15 GMT - AFP