Baghdad economic monitor warns currency-change rumors unnerving Iraqi dinar market

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Baghdad-based economic monitor Ikko Iraq said the government's silence over a reported decision involving the Kurdistan Regional Administration has fueled uncertainty in the Iraqi dinar market. Ikko Iraq said sensitive monetary decisions being disclosed by unauthorized bodies reflect a lack of inter-institutional coordination and create a breeding ground for rumors. The monitor warned that the situation could deepen market anxiety by driving up demand for foreign currency and gold. It called on the Central Bank of Iraq and the Ministry of Finance to issue an official statement laying out the rationale, implementation mechanism and timeline of the decision. Ikko Iraq also urged authorities to provide guarantees aimed at protecting citizens' savings and maintaining market stability. No further details were immediately available from the Central Bank of Iraq or the Ministry of Finance in response to the monitor's remarks.