Interest rates were more and more determined in the markets, and some measures were taken regarding the supervision of the banking sector. However, before taking the necessary actions for strengthening the domestic financial markets, such as measures for more transparent balance sheets and more careful risk management in the intermediation process, the capital account was liberalized at the end of the 1980s. The Turkish economy with an inefficient banking sector became open to intensive capital movements. In my view, the Turkish economy turned into an open one before it became strong enough to cope with capital movements that would occur in the 90s. The sequencing of reforms for the Turkish economy in general and its financial system in particular should have been set differently. What went wrong in the Turkish economy in the 90s? Policies did not concentrate on ensuring and maintaining macroeconomic stability; different priorities, delayed reforms, loose fiscal policy and accommodative monetary policy led to dynamic instability throughout these years. As a result, inflation climbed to 79 percent on average, budget deficit widened so much that the public sector borrowing requirement reached 15.5 percent of the GNP by 1999, the output growth was very low on average and volatile compared to other emerging markets. So, poor macroeconomic fundamentals and a fully liberalized capital account brought about vulnerability of the economy to external shocks and the Turkish economy faced severe financial crises and turbulences in the 90s. Such an environment had also important implications on the financial system.

First is Mainland authorities’ efforts to connect the interbank and exchange bond markets, which will allow participants in each market to access securities in the other market through an infrastructure connection without having to open separate accounts. This should ultimately be beneficial to the growth of both the CIBM and exchange bond markets, thus creating a bigger pie. 15. Foreign investors who access the interbank market through Bond Connect or CIBM Direct will be able to trade in the exchange market, which is the platform where most non-financial corporate bonds are lodged. The construction of the system linkage between the onshore infrastructure institutions is under way. Upon completion, the HKMA’s Central Moneymarkets Unit will explore with the Mainland side on the system enhancements required for Bond Connect investors to participate in the exchange bond market. 16. This development moves closer to having a single access point to the onshore bond market and will further open up access to the fast-growing credit bond market which remains relatively untapped by international investors. This presents an opportunity for investors to look further along the credit curve for diversification and yield. Relatedly, the entry of foreign firms into the onshore credit rating business is expected to facilitate this process, speed up the convergence of local and global ratings standards, and enhance foreign investors’ analysis of corporate credit. 17. Secondly, Mainland and Hong Kong stock exchanges have reached an agreement to include eligible ETFs in the Stock Connect scheme and technical preparations are under way.