ISTANBUL, March 20 (A.A) - The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) National-100 index increased after U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney had stated that there would not be any operation against Iraq in foreseeable future.
The index which had entered a decreasing trend in recent days due to worries about a possible intervention in Iraq started the day with a 141.46 points increase to 10,785.16.
So far in today's morning session, the index which has never reduced below yesterday's closing point of 10,643.70 increased up to 10,921.47 points. The index which later decreased shortly is now trying to settle about 10,850 points.
Experts say that in addition to Cheney's statement, State Minister Kemal Dervis's statement about end of the acute crisis in Washington and the start of works on decreasing the ''overemployment'' at the public sector had been effective in perception of the atmosphere as positive.