IslamicFinance.de

Without contradicting the values and practices of Islamic banking, a new regulation is awaited for the Islamic banks. The goal of the legislative reform is to make tools for growth available. This regulation would force non-Islamist banks to comply to the same laws and standards of Islamist banks.

Oman is the last of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council to introduce Islamic banking, thus being able to encourage the development of sharia scholars. The highly detailed rules for the Islamic banking sector include the plan to enlarge the pool of qualified scholars as a scholar can only be appointed for two three-year terms in the Sharia Board. The higher demand for scholars calls for a scholar development program that needs to be developed in parallel with the initiative.

The Al Hilal Islamic Banking services launched their first branches that provide Islamic banking products and services. The chairman Hamdan bin Ali bin Nasser al Hinai said the goal of the new services is to meet the needs of all customers in terms of truth, transparency and being fully sharia compliant as the integration of ethical and moral values with the banking operations is a unique and salient characteristic of Islamic banking.
An implemented independent Sharia Supervisory Board has the power to audit all contracts and transactions, give opinion and guidance and the bank´s management shall strictly follow the guidelines outlined by the board.
Shaikh Aflah bin Ahmed bin Hamad al Khalili, member of the Sharia Supervisory Board of the bank said that the products on offer will contribute to the efforts made by the Sultanate´s government to enhance the role played by Islamic banking in achieving sustainable development as well as more progress and prosperity for the Omani people.

Bahrain's Al Salam Bank confirmed media reports related to a potential merger with an unnamed regional bank. One potential merger prospect is Khaleeji Commercial Bank , after Gulf Finance House, which owns 47 percent of the lender, said last week it was studying tie-up options with other Bahraini banks. In February, merger talks between Bahrain Islamic Bank and Al Salam Bank collapsed due to disagreement on valuation.

Bank Islam Malaysia today confirmed that the suspension of its chief economist Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin was due to his prediction of the results of Election 2013. The bank's current policy is to suspend its staff if they engage in political activity or make political comments. According to a statement, any staff irrespective of their position, who has breached the Bank’s internal policy, will be suspended with full pay, to facilitate investigation.

The Islamic Bank of Britain (IBB) launches a rent only plan, that means a variable rental rate product which is available to landlords of any faith with a deposit of 35 per cent and at a rental rate of 5.49 per cent. The plan offers financing between £30,000 and £500,000 on a minimum property value of £90,000. According to IBB head of sales and services Imran Pasha, there is a growing demand from landlords for Sharia compliant property finance.

Several Japanese institutions are establishing and expanding their Islamic finance businesses. Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking for example made a Shariah-compliant deal with Brunei Gas Carriers (BGC). Other financial institutions and insurance companies focus on Malaysia to offer their Islamic products.

According to Essa Kazim, the chairman of the Borse Dubai, the emirate's strategy to become a global centre for Islamic business and finance is paying off, although it is still at an early stage. Underlining its ambitions, the emirate raised US$1.25 billion (Dh4.59bn) in government sukuk at competitive interest rates last week. The Dubai Financial Market General Index is one of the best performing in the world over the last 12 months.

Japanese financial institutions have started offering Islamic financial services in Muslim countries in the region. The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking for example arranged a Shariah-compliant deal with a shipping company affiliated with the Brunei government. Meanwhile, other financial institutions are expanding their Islamic banking services. Especially the markets for Islamic financing in Malaysia and Indonesia are expected to grow.

The Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC (DIB) intends to acquire 100 per cent of Tamweel PJSC, the UAE-based Islamic home finance provider. DIB is the major shareholder of Tamweel, and will offer the other shareholders ten DIB shares for every 18 Tamweel shares. After approval by all regulators the date of the offer will be communicated individually to all Tamweel shareholders giving them adequate time to respond.

Muslims live their lives in accordance to the teachings of their founder, Muhammad, whose business dealings were strongly linked to humanitarian values. Therefore, today’s Muslims are encouraged to keep their wealth in constant circulation, either into the business, or into local communities. Comparatively, a social enterprise is an organization, which focuses on environmental, social and economical well-being with a profit-making business model. These two types of businesses have community interests in common and are also faced with similar issues due to the constant circulation of money.

The Canadian life insurer InSun Life Financial c. (SLF) has forged an alliance with Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Khazanah) to jointly acquire 98% of CIMB Aviva Assurance Berhad, and CIMB Aviva Takaful Berhad. The remaining 2%will be retained by CIMB Group. The bancassurance agreement will cover a span of 20 years and will cost C$586 million. Through this transaction, SLF will be able to expand its international operations in Asia.

Bank Islam Malaysia lodged two police reports against its suspended chief economist, Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin for allegedly possessing and leaking confidential documents. Azrul was found in the possession of the minutes of the bank’s board of directors’ meeting which were reportedly sent to a third party last June. The police is investigating the case. Azrul was suspended by the bank last week after airing his comments on political issuses.

Suspended Bank Islam chief economist Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin is facing disciplinary action after airing his views on political issues. Azrul himself classified the police’s intervention as an intimidation and harassment tactic whereas a member of parliament described it as a manifestation of the standard of governance in the local banking scene.

Bahrain-based Gulf Finance House (GFH) is studying options to merge its affiliate, Khaleeji Commercial Bank (KCB), with other Bahraini banks. It did not say which Bahraini banks it was considering as merger partners.

Genghis Capital, the investment arm of Chase Bank is planning to launch a Shariah-compliant unit trust called the Iman Fund in Kenya next month. The Fund is aimed at Muslim investors with an entry level for investments of minimum 500 Kenyan Shillings ($5.78).

Al Salam Bank Bahrain acquired an equity stake in two new Boeing planes which are being leased long-term to Emirates Airlines. Thus, investors have the opportunity to benefit from a regular income stream with a yield of 9% p.a. secured by a top tier airline. The Bank retained a sizeable stake of the investment in the proprietary portfolio and sold down the remaining portion to its investors.

Dubai aims to become a global centre for Islamic finance and economy, a project that will receive full support of the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC).The DMCC already functions as a trading centre for Sharia-compliant Islamic financial products and prepares to further develop that industry.

The central banks of China and the UAE are strengthening bilateral financial cooperation in order to further increase trade and investment activities between China and the Middle East. Greater yuan currency usage in bilateral transactions will provide opportunities for public and private asset managers in Middle East to diversify and enhance their portfolio investments.

Syrian banks remove deposits from their branches in “hot spot” areas and transport the cash to their head offices in Damascus. However, a lot of money is going missing on the way due to robbery, theft and payoff to gangs. Moreover, Syria also faces fuel shortage and a power outage in Damascus after an attack on the main power line.