Forex held by Turkish locals recedes from record high -cenbank

ISTANBUL - Total foreign currency deposits and funds including precious metals held by Turkish local individuals and institutions eased from a record high to $181.13 billion as of April 5, data from the central bank showed on Thursday.

The forex holdings of local individuals alone also declined slightly for the first time in six months.

Turks converting their savings into foreign currencies since last year's currency crisis had signaled a decline of confidence in the lira, analysts say.

(Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen Editing by Dominic Evans) ((ali.kucukgocmen@thomsonreuters.com , @alikucukgocmen; +902123507067; Reuters Messaging: Reuters Messaging: ali.kucukgocmen.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))