Turkish assets held abroad increase 1 percent in April

Assets held abroad by Turkish nationals increased 1 percent in April 2015 compared to the same month the previous year, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey said in a statement Wednesday. Assets held abroad reached $233.1 billion, the statement said. Liabilities held against non-residents decreased 6 percent in April from the same month last year, reaching $627.2 billion. The net international investment position (NIIP) - the gap between assets abroad and liabilities - was negative $394.1 billion in April. In comparison, the NIIP was negative $430.9 billion at the end of 2014, compared with negative $390 billion the same month the previous year. Turkey's national income was $800 billion in 2014 and Turkey's debts were 49.2 percent of the national income. Portfolio investment decreased by $16.4 billion in April and non-residents' equity holdings in Turkey were at $53.7 billion, a decrease of 13.2 percent from the end of 2014.