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Islamic Finance Briefing - Archive | April, 2010

Arcapita eyes more stable funds business

Posted on 28 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Arabianbusiness.com: Bahraini investment house Arcapita plans to build a fund management business to complement its private equity operations after that segment was badly hit by the financial crisis, its chief executive said.

CEO Atif Abdulmalik on Tuesday told Reuters the firm plans to manage $10 billion worth of funds within three years and expects to generate half its revenues from recurrent fees earned on managing these funds…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Islamic bank deposits in Labuan IBFC rises 14.5 pct to US$386.4 mln

Posted on 28 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Bernama: Total deposits of full-pledged Islamic banks and Islamic windows of conventional banks operating in Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (IBFC) rose 14.5 per cent to US$386.4 million (US$1.00=RM3.18) as at Dec 31, 2009 from US$337.3 million in 2008.

There were six full-pledged Islamic banks and six Islamic windows of conventional banks operating during the period in Labuan IBFC, Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA) said in its 2009 Annual Report released here today…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Two new mega players in Islamic banking

Posted on 28 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Mmail.com.my: The issuance of two mega Islamic banking licences with US$1 billion (RM3.1 bln) capital to be announced in June is expected to boost the Malaysian Islamic finance industry.

Bank Negara Malaysia’s deputy governor Datuk Mohd Razif Abd Kadir in disclosing this at the Malaysia International Islamic Financial Centre (MIFC) roadshow here yesterday called it a liberalising move for the sector…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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National Bank of Abu Dhabi profits up 34pct

Posted on 28 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Tradearabia.com: National Bank of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) largest bank by market value, on Tuesday posted a 34 percent rise in first-quarter net profit.

The increase in profits were due to higher revenues from loans and gains on investments…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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ADX may be open to Shariah compliance

Posted on 28 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Business24-7.ae: The Acting Chief Executive and Director of Operations, Rashed Al Baloushi, yesterday said that there is no current policy for the ADX to operate in compliance with Shariah, but this may happen in future.

He said no steps have been taken as yet to classify listed companies as Islamic and non-Islamic…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Australia mulls moves to attract Islamic finance

Posted on 27 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Gulf-times.com: Australia’s Board of Taxation will be undertaking a comprehensive review of laws that need to be changed to encourage the expansion of Islamic finance, banking and insurance products in Australia, Australian Assistant Treasurer Senator Nick Sherry has said.
He is set to meet Qatar government officials today to discuss these changes and the resultant opportunities for Qatar investment in Australia…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Islamic asset management to be worth $125bln

Posted on 27 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Alrroya.com: The Islamic asset management industry is expected to be worth about $125 billion (Dh458bn) in the next 10 years – a growth of more than 46 per cent from its current value of $67bn – as demand for shariah-compliant financial products continue to move upwards.

Datuk Noripah Kamso, Chief Executive of the Malaysian-based global shariah investment manager CIMB-Principal Islamic Asset Management, estimates a double-digit annual average growth rate for the industry in the next decade…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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More Islamic banking licences to mark industry’s significant development

Posted on 27 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Bernama: The issuance of two more mega Islamic banking licences with US$1 billion capital, which is expected to be announced by June this year, will mark a significant development in the Malaysian Islamic finance industry.

Bank Negara Malaysia’s deputy governor Datuk Mohd Razif Abd Kadir said the move would be a major step in liberalising the Islamic financial sector…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Malaysia to include Islamic banking in FTA talks with GCC

Posted on 27 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Bernama: Malaysia, which is currently in the midst of negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), will look at several sectors including Islamic banking to be included in the FTA.

Malaysian Ambassador to United Arab Emirates (UAE), Datuk Yahaya Abdul Jabar, said the country was looking at all sectors but priority will be in Islamic banking, construction, information communication technology, renewable energy and tourism…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Emirates NBD beats forecasts

Posted on 27 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Gulfnews.com: Emirates NBD, the largest bank in the Gulf region in terms of assets, reported a net profit of Dh1.11 billion in the first quarter of 2010, 12 per cent down from Dh1.259 billion reported in the same period last year.

The bank’s first-quarter results were above the average net profit forecast given by analysts of Dh617 million…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Sudan backs CBN on non-interest banking

Posted on 27 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Thisdayonline.com: The monetary authority in Sudan has expressed its readiness to supportthe Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in implementing non- interest banking in the country.A statement by the CBN and signed by its Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Mohammed Abdulahi, stated that the support, which isfrom the Central Bank of Sudan (CBOS) would be through experience sharing and capacity building.

According to the statement, a CBN delegation led by the CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi , had visited the CBOS where the CBN Governor intimated officials of the CBOS on the on-going efforts to develop a regulatory and supervisory framework for non-interest banking inNigeria…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Islamic banking: Global pool of sovereign assets out

Posted on 27 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Financialstandardnews.com: The Council of Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) has agreed to set up global pool of sovereign assets as part of efforts to promote Islamic banking in the global market. The plan to set up the sovereign assets was reached at the 16th meeting of the Council of Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) in Khartoum, Sudan last week.
Mohammed Abdullahi, head, Corporate Communications, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said Mallam Sanusi Lamido, CBN governor was at the meeting to educate international community on what the CBN is doing on Islamic banking…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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UAE banks likely to take Dubai World hit in Q2

Posted on 27 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Kuwaittimes.net: United Arab Emirates banks are likely to face the brunt of the Dubai World restructuring impact in the second quarter after the central bank told lenders they are not required to book provisions until there is more clarity.

In a circular dated April 22, the central bank told local banks they “are not required to provision their related exposure to Dubai World”. It said it would “provide further guidance to banks concerning the treatment of Dubai World debt in their books”…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Noor Islamic Bank closes Murabaha syndicated facility for Bank Asya

Posted on 27 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Cpifinancial.net: Noor Islamic Bank, as joint Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner with ABC Islamic Bank and Standard Chartered Bank, announces the successful closing of the $255 million equivalent ($121.5 million and EUR 99.15 million) dual currency Islamic Structured Murabaha Syndicated Facility for the Bank Asya, one of Turkey’s leading banks in foreign trade.
With the participation of 26 international banks from across 16 different countries, Noor Islamic Bank was one of the top three banks appointed to run the transaction…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Gulf Islamic banks eye conversion of conventional peers

Posted on 27 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Reuters: More banks in the Gulf Arab region may convert to Islamic finance in a bid to tap rising demand for sharia-compliant products and to avoid the heavy investment required to launch new banks.
A source told Reuters this month that Qatari investors are planning to buy a 25 percent stake in Ahli United Bank from Kuwaiti investors and have plans to convert Bahrain’s largest retail bank, which itself plans to take its Kuwaiti unit Islamic…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Prospects brighten for global sukuk sales

Posted on 27 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Reuters: Confidence in global markets for issuance of Islamic bonds, or sukuk, is rebounding as the Dubai debt crisis no longer burdens sentiment, a Reuters poll showed.

The majority of 10 Islamic bankers and industry experts surveyed expect issuance in 2010 to range between $26 billion-$28 billion or top $28 billion, up from a similar poll in January which expected only between $15 billion-$17 billion in issuance. Experts said that market confidence is recovering as the impact of the debt crisis of Dubai, the Gulf Arab business and tourism hub, becomes more visible………………………………….Full Article: Source

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Tabreed profit rises on gains from convertible Sukuk

Posted on 27 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Businessweek.com: National Central Cooling Co., the Abu Dhabi-based refrigeration company, said first-quarter profit almost quadrupled on gains from its Islamic convertible bonds.

Net income surged to 40.4 million dirhams ($11 million) from 10.7 million dirhams in the year-earlier, the company, known as Tabreed, said in a statement to the Dubai bourse today. Revenue declined to 184.6 million dirhams from 189.7 million dirhams…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Central Bank of Bahrain Sukuk Al-Salam Securities oversubscribed

Posted on 27 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Ameinfo.com: The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) announces that the monthly issue of the Sukuk Al-Salam Islamic securities has been oversubscribed by 308%.
Subscriptions worth BD37m were received for the BD12m issue, which carries a maturity of 91 days…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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MIDF Amanah to convert two bond funds into money market funds

Posted on 27 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Bernama: MIDF Amanah Asset Management Bhd has set its sights on converting two of its bond funds into money market funds before the year-end, says Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Scott Lim.

He said the bond funds, MIDF Amanah Bond Fund and MIDF Amanah Islamic Bond Fund, are not suitable to be managed as such due to the small size…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Takaful Malaysia hopes to create more awareness

Posted on 27 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Theborneopost.com: Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Bhd’s (Takaful Malaysia) participation in the Minggu Saham Amanah Malaysia (MSAM) 2010 is aimed at creating awareness on the part of the Sarawakian general public with regards to its products and services.
Takaful Malaysia business development manager Muhd Haikal Idris said that the company was now using a three-tiered agency structure to push its offerings compared with the previous system of using salaried staff at its branches nationwide…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Islamic finance faces hurdle, lacks expertise, U.K. body says

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Bloomberg: A shortage of skilled Islamic scholars and banking officials versed in Shariah-compliant finance is hampering the industry’s ability to develop global standards, said an official at the Islamic Finance Council U.K.

“People from conventional banks need to understand Islamic finance, but Shariah scholars also need to learn more about conventional finance,” Omar Shaikh, a board member of the Glasgow-based Islamic Finance Council, said in a telephone interview in Dubai. “The industry is growing fast globally and this creates challenges associated with standardization.”………………………………….Full Article: Source

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2010: Active year for Islamic finance in Kingdom

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Arabnews.com: Judging by the number of deals closed, funds launched and the presence of new institutions, 2010 is turning out to be a very active year for the Islamic finance market in Saudi Arabia.

The Kingdom, in terms of pool of funds, is the largest player in the global Islamic finance market, although its industry, like elsewhere, is subject to traditional bottlenecks, scarcity of human capital resources and underdeveloped market awareness…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Islamic bank enters Germany

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Arabnews.com: The European Union’s largest and strongest economy, Germany, is finally edging toward facilitating Islamic finance in its jurisdiction. Germany has a Muslim population of 4.3 million, the second largest Muslim population in the EU after France with 5.5 million.

Reports from Germany stress that the country’s banking regulator, the Federal Financial Services Authority (BaFin), has issued a limited banking license to Kuveyt Turk Participation Bank, one of Turkey’s four so-called participation (Islamic) banks…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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How to take a bank Islamic

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Reuters: The Islamic finance industry is increasingly turning to buying and converting conventional banks as an alternative to starting green-field operations. Every Islamic financial institution has a board of Islamic scholars approving banking products and transactions based on their interpretation of Islamic law, or sharia.

The sharia board will guide the bank during its transition period to an Islamic bank…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Islamic banks need to boost image

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Gulfnews.com: What is the “elevator” pitch of Islamic finance to the non-Muslim and the sceptical Muslim? Why do news releases often become articles in Islamic finance?

Although, it is a 40-year phenomenon, has an Islamic bank broken in to the top 100 global brands, competing with Coca-Cola, Citibank, Google, etc? How about national or regional trusted brands?………………………………….Full Article: Source

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More Gulf banks to turn ‘Islamic’ to meet demand

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Indiatimes.com: More banks in the Gulf Arab region may convert to Islamic finance in a bid to tap rising demand for sharia-compliant products and to avoid the heavy investment required to launch new banks.

A source told Reuters this month that Qatari investors are planning to buy a 25% stake in Ahli United Bank from Kuwaiti investors and have plans to convert Bahrain’s largest retail bank, which itself plans to take its Kuwaiti unit Islamic…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Sharia boards should play strategic role

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Gulfnews.com: It is an extraordinary sight. A Sharia-compliant finance company is arguing in an English court that it should not have to make good on one of its financial obligations because the obligation was never Islamic.

Yet that is exactly what Kuwait’s The Investment Dar (TID) company is arguing as it tries to avoid paying Lebanon’s Blom Bank a return on deposits placed with it…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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VTB to launch ‘Islamic bond’

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Themoscowtimes.com: VTB Bank plans to launch an Islamic bond worth about $200 million in the second half after postponing from last year, when defaults and Dubai World’s woes hit the market, a source familiar with the deal said.

VTB has cut the size of the sukuk, or Islamic bond, from an original target of $300 million, the source said. According to a VTB document referring to the original planned launch, the three-year VTB-Leasing sukuk issue had been scheduled “for December 6th with a view of execution in mid-December 2009.”………………………………….Full Article: Source

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Region may see more sukuk funds this year

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Business24-7.ae: The launch of sukuk funds is expected to pick up momentum this year as issuers realise the strong retail market potential for such funds in the UAE.

Emirates NBD has already launched its Global Sukuk Fund and Islamic finance experts expect more issuances this year. The trend is also considered a “good breakthrough development” as the funds give an opportunity to retail investors to participate in the asset class…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Sukuk market recovery in 2012

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Tradearabia.com: The Islamic bond market, which remains static this year, is set to pick up in 2011-12 with Qatari and Saudi spearheading the industry growth, according to industry experts.

Now is a pivotal time for the global Islamic finance industry as sukuks are expected to grow in importance on the radar of global investors, they noted…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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IFC Sukuk receives most innovative Islamic bond deal award

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Ifc.org: Today IFC announced it received the EMEA Finance Most Innovative Islamic Bond Deal award for its groundbreaking $100 million Hilal Sukuk (Islamic investment certificates).

On October 21, 2009, IFC became the first non-Islamic financial institution to issue a Sukuk for term funding in the Middle East. The IFC Sukuk supports a pipeline of IFC Islamic finance projects in key sectors such as health, education, and infrastructure…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Dewa bond reopens debt market

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Gulfnews.com: The UAE’s corporate bond issuance market that went into hibernation after the Dubai Government announced a standstill on Dubai World’s debts in November is seen getting a new lease of life following the successful $1 billion (Dh3.67 billion) bond issue by Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (Dewa).

Investment bankers and bond market analysts see signs of a gradual revival in the corporate bond market in the UAE and the Gulf region that had been stalled for over five months…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Oil price surge to trigger GCC bond activity

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Business24-7.ae: Despite an improvement in crude prices and expectations of domestic economic recovery, the debt market in Gulf oil-producing states declined sharply in the first quarter of 2010 because of widening uncertainty and better prospects about growth in bank lending, according to a key Saudi investment firm.

Conventional bond activity in the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) tumbled by nearly 70 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared with its average in the previous three quarters, said NCB Capital, an affiliate of National Commercial Bank, the largest bank in Saudi Arabia by assets…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Gulf Islamic banks eye conversion of conventional peers

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Reuters: More banks in the Gulf Arab region may convert to Islamic finance in a bid to tap rising demand for sharia-compliant products and to avoid the heavy investment required to launch new banks.
A source told Reuters this month that Qatari investors are planning to buy a 25 percent stake in Ahli United Bank from Kuwaiti investors and have plans to convert Bahrain’s largest retail bank, which itself plans to take its Kuwaiti unit Islamic…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Arab Banking Corp Q1 net up 25pct

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Tradearabia.com: Bahrain-based Arab Banking Corporation has announced that its consolidated group net profit for the first quarter had risen to $41 million registering a 25 per cent growth when compared to the same period last year.

Announcing the results on Sunday, ABC president and chief executive Hassan Juma said the total revenue amounted to $170 million, well above the $139 million generated in the first quarter of last year…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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BIBD plans Islamic finance academy

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Bt.com.bn: Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) plans to become the main financial services provider in Brunei, focusing on Islamic banking and strong human resources development, said the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR), Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, at the bank’s Annual Dinner yesterday.

In his first speech since his appointment to the position of BIBD Chairman in February, Pehin Dato Hj Yahya touched on a number of significant plans for 2010…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Al Baraka, Emirates Global Islamic merge Pakistan operations

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Reuters: Bahrain-based Islamic lender Al Baraka BARKA.BH said on Sunday it would merge the Pakistani operations of one of its units with Emirates Global Islamic Bank, creating a bank with assets of $582 million.
Al Baraka said in a statement the merger of Al Baraka Islamic Bank’s Pakistani operations with Emirates Global Islamic Bank was part of its strategy to expand in Pakistan, but did not disclose any financial details of the merger transaction…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Islamic, conventional banks are different: SBP

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Tribune.com.pk: One of the biggest challenges facing Islamic banking in Pakistan is to create awareness and convince people that it is different from conventional banking, Saleemullah, Director Islamic Banking, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), said.

The wrong perception of “old wine in a new bottle” should be dealt with by convincing people that what Islamic banks offer is distinct, he said. He was speaking at a seminar on Islamic banking organised at the Federation House on Saturday…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Syria’s Mufti, Sheikh Ahmed Hassoun on Islamic banking’s future

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Aawsat.com: Syria’s Mufti, Dr. Ahmed Hassoun edict to rename Islamic banking as “partnership” has caused an uproar in the world of Islamic finance and its followers. Dr Hassoun justifies his call for renaming them as “partnerships” by the fact that he is afraid of hearing in the future of “Jewish banks” or “Christian banks,” because now there are those who call for establishing “Hindu banks.”

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat on the future of Islamic banking, Dr Hassoun says: “We have to think of universality before we are taken and crushed by globalization. The banking and financial dealing is impartial and is subject to the rulings of Shariaa…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Affin eyes Islamic finance foray

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Btimes.com.my: Affin Bank Bhd will work with its parent company to convert PT Ina Perdana into a syariah bank once the purchase of the Indonesian lender is concluded, as the group expands into the populous Muslim country.
“Our holding company is looking at it, it will acquire the bank and then we will work together to convert it into an Islamic bank. It is now a conventional lender,” Affin Bank managing director Datuk Zulkiflee Abbas Abdul Hamid told Business Times in an interview in Kuala Lumpur…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Emirates NBD to launch two funds

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Business24-7.ae: Emirates NBD, the region’s largest bank in assets, is in the process of soft launching its new infrastructure fund and integrated SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) fund shortly, according to a top bank executive.

Suresh Kumar, Member of the bank’s Board of Directors and CEO of Emirates NBD Capital, said that while the funds would be launched in the near future, the value per fund could not be disclosed…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Amlak sinks into the red for year

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Thenational.ae: Consumer mortgages were a rare bright spot last year for Amlak Finance, as the struggling Islamic mortgage lender reported an annual loss of Dh155.6 million (US$42.36m).

The company, which is based in Dubai, is listed on the Dubai Financial Market and is partly owned by Emaar Properties, made Dh89.3m on retail financing activities last year, according to results released yesterday…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Machiavellianism in Islamic finance

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Aaawsat.com: When a financial institution is claiming that all its activities are compliant with Islamic Sharia and that it has appointed its own Sharia body to determine whether or not its products and contracts are Sharia compliant and to observe and scrutinize the institution’s activities and its accuracy with regards to Sharia law then this very institution fails to meet its obligations towards its clients and contests in a court of law the compliance of these contracts to Sharia law, this in itself contradicts Islamic Sharia.
This is all so that the institution can evade its responsibility towards its clients even though the contracts were drawn up by its own legal department and approved by its Sharia body. How can we describe such conduct? ………………………………….Full Article: Source

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Islamic Finance specialist teams up with Italian firm

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Timesofmalta.com: Studio Associate Dagradi and Soleto of Milan has concluded an agreement with Erremme Business Advisors to provide a legal and fiscal framework of Islamic Finance assistance in Italy.

Erremme Business Advisors specialise in Islamic finance based in Malta and work in various Gulf countries…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Malaysia delegation to strengthen Islamic finance ties with UAE

Posted on 26 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Aameinfo.com: A high-level Malaysian delegation headed by H R H Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah Ibni Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah, Crown Prince of Perak Darul Ridzuan, is visiting the UAE from April 26 to 28 to promote business and investment opportunities in Islamic Finance in Malaysia, acknowledged globally for its highly-developed and diversified Islamic banking and financial market.
The 58-member delegation includes Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar, Chairman of Securities Commission, Malaysia, Dato Mohammed Razif Abd Kadir, Deputy Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia (Central Bank of Malaysia), Tan Sri Dato Azman bin Mokhtar, Managing Director of Khazanah National Bhd, and Dato Yusli bin Mohamed Yusoff, CEO, Bursa Malaysia Berhad…………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Sukuk market rcovery epected in 2011 - 12

Posted on 23 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Albawaba.com: Analysts predict that now is a pivotal time for the global Islamic finance industry as sukuks are expected to grow in importance on the radar of global investors. Industry players predict that the current year will remain static but recovery is expected in 2011-12. Qatari and Saudi sukuks will lead the markets.
“The market is changing wherein the cost of capital is becoming important. In the medium to long term, markets need a lot more funds, more listings and finally, more players to develop this market,” said Nida Raza, Senior Vice President – Capital Markets, Unicorn Investment Bank……………………………………..Full Article: Source

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Nakheel offers trade creditors 10 pct on sukuk

Posted on 23 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Ibtimes.co.uk: Nakheel trade creditors have been offered a 10 percent return on a planned Islamic bond as part of debt restructuring plans by parent firm Dubai World , said a source familiar with the matter.
The source said that the 10 percent return — which is considered a starting point for negotiations — is a hefty offer, especially in light of Dubai World’s opening offer to its bank lenders of just one percent for two tranches of debt to mature in five and eight years………………………………………Full Article: Source

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Egypt receives $12bln in orders for overseas dollar bond sale

Posted on 23 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Gulfnews.com: Egypt received $12 billion in orders for the North African country’s first overseas sale of dollar bonds in nine years, according to a banker familiar with the transaction. The bonds are expected to be priced midday New York time, said the banker, who declined to be identified because terms aren’t set.
The country may sell $1 billion of 10-year notes to yield about 5.875 per cent and $500 million of 30-year bonds to yield about 7 per cent, said another banker yesterday. It’s the country’s first 30-year bond, according to Reham Al Desoki, economist at Beltone Fin-ancial in Cairo………………………………………Full Article: Source

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42nd ad 43rd isuances of Sukuk Al-Ijarah

Posted on 23 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Brudirect.com: The Ministry of Finance, Brunei Darussalam has announced the successful pricing of its 42′ and 43rd issuances of short-term Sukuk Al-Ijarah securities.
According to a press release from the ministry, the accumulated total of these two sukuk issuances was B$100 million,B$70millionforSeries42 and B$30million for Series43………………………………………Full Article: Source

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Forum to highlight key role of Islamic finance

Posted on 23 April 2010 by Laxman  |  Email|Print

From Gulf-daily-news.com: The important role of the Islamic finance industry in the global economy will be the focus of a major conference in Bahrain next month. More than 200 international delegates are expected to take part in the seventh Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) summit.
Themed Global Financial Architecture: Challenges for Islamic Finance, the event will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa from May 3 to 5 and will be hosted by the Central Bank of Bahrain. ……………………………………..Full Article: Source

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