IslamicFinance.de

Without causing much noise, liquidity-rich Arab banks have been taking part in commodity trade finance - an area which, until recently, was dominated by a small number of French banks. While the market share of eurozone banks has decreased from 80% two years ago to 50% today, banks from the Gulf region become more and more present. The lending limitations of the eurozone banks is caused by constrained US dollar liquidity.

Read more on: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/d775f476-144a-11e2-8cf2-00144feabdc0.html...

KPMG organised a seminar on Islamic Finance-Lessons Learnt from abroad & Challenges faced in Oman. The seminar was the latest in a series of Breakfast Seminars held by KPMG. At the seminar, a comparative analysis of Islamic Finance models which are implemented in different countries was made and pros and cons of the different approaches were discussed at length. A methodical approach for the development of Islamic Finance industry infrastructure was pointed out to be an optimal approach for best results in Oman.

BankDhofar intends a move to introduce sharia-compliant banking services. Therefore, they plan the launch of an Islamic Banking window. The approval for the move was given at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the bank's shareholders. Also, it was agreed upon the appointment of a Sharia Supervisory Board.

Read more on: http://www.zawya.com/story/BankDhofar_EGM_nod_for_Islamic_Banking_Window...

Al Jazira Bank has registered net income of SAR 130 million during the third quarter of the year. This is an increase of 97% in comparison with the net income SAR 66 million for the same period last year. Compared to the second quarter of 2012, there is an increase of 1% from SAR 129 million. The difference between the total operating income during the third quarter this year and the same period in 2011 is 33% in favour of Q3 2012.

Read more on: http://www.cpifinancial.net/news/post/16209/al-jazira-bank-q3-profit-up-...

This month Islamic Development Bank (IDB) issued a US$500m five-year sukuk. This is a rare example of a privately-placed transaction from this institution. Market data show that the deal was priced at 30 basis points (bps) over the three-month London interbank offered rate. The issuance is prat of bank's US$6.5bn sukuk programme.

Read more on: http://www.arabianbusiness.com/islamic-development-bank-places-500m-suku...

According to an announcement by Bloomberg, Banque Saudi Fransi (BSFR) has been approved by the Saudi central bank to issue Islamic bonds worth SR2.5bn ($667m). The expected effects of the sukuk include enhancing the bank's capital base and expansion of ots lending activities.

Read more on: http://www.ameinfo.com/sama-approves-banque-saudi-fransis-667m-315206

Family businesses in the Middle East and in the Gulf region face crucial challenges and therefore turn to the government for help and support. The chairman of Al Fahim Group explains that government support and backing similar to the one during the leadership of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan is necessary - local companies need to be supported by ensuring them government work and purchasing their products and services.

Read more on: http://www.zawya.com/story/Family_businesses_in_Middle_East_seek_governm...

According to Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani, no political motivation lies behind Qatar's investments in France. The Prime Minister further said that the country does not have any great political ambitions and that everything concerning investments in France is done after extensive coordination with the French side. So far, Qatar has acquired Paris Saint-Germain football club, 3% of energy giant Total, and stakes in building firm Vinci and in media group Lagardere.

Read more on: http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=54911

Qatari Barwa Bank has launched a new Islamic product which is to support SMEs - Qotof. This is a suite of financial packages which serves to assist local corporations to achieve their business objectives and, at the same time, to save money. Until now, the products included in the package had been sold separately. By putting the m together in one product, the costs can be held lower and encourage businesses to take advantage of the offer.

Read more on: http://www.cpifinancial.net/news/post/16260/barwa-bank-launches-new-isla...

The Dubai Islamic Humanitarian Foundation donated a sum of Dh5.6 million altogether which was to help 249 families during the past nine months. The money was used to cover school fees for children of 183 families, buy dialysis units and ultrasound imaging equipment for four hospitals, etc.

Read more on: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/nationge...

QInvest LLC, which is forming a joint venture with Egyptian EFG-Hermes Holding SAE, issaid to be cutting jobs at its brokerage and asset management divisions. 13 people will have to leave. The reductions, however, have not been made public yet. In the joint venture, QInvest LLC plans to take 60% of the new entity while EFG-Hermes Holding SAE receives the remaining 40%.

Read more on: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-10/qinvest-said-to-cut-jobs-at-bro...

Asa reflection of healthy demand for the sukuk deal, Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB) launched a US$700m Islamic bond on Thursday. The price of the issue lies at the lower end of the one revised. The spread of the five-year sukuk is 190 basis points over midswaps. The mandated arrangers on the deal are HSBC, Standard Chartered and QNB Capital.

Read more on: http://www.arabianbusiness.com/qatar-s-qiib-price-700m-sukuk-thursday-47...

An issuance of a full-fledged Islamic Banking Regulatory Framework (IBRF) by the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) is expected in the very near future. Therefore, Oman is ready to dive into Islamic finance. By the end of 2015 a growth in Islamic finance assets of 20% of the total banking and insurance assets in the Sultanate is expected. Investment in research and innovation is encouraged in order to meet the needs of the increasing market appetite.

A consultation paper released this week announces a proposal by Qatar's regulator for extending its ban on onshore banks operating Islamic windows in order to make financial institutions part of the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC). Islamic windows enable conventional banks to offer Islamic financial services. The only prerequisite is that clients' money is segregated from the rest of the bank. An extension of the ban is expected to prevent conventional banks from taking advantage of the QFC.

Read more on: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/11/islamic-finance-qatar-idUSL6E8...

Bahrain investment firm Arcapita Bank has time until Dec. 14 to submit a reorganization plan without the threat of rival proposals. The company shall not seek any further extensions after that date. The extension was approved by judge Sean H. Lane of U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan. The decision was made possible by the satisfaction of an objection from Arcapita's official committee of unsecured creditors. Arcapita considers a standalone plan as well as a plan involving new money from a third party.

Read more on: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/arcapita-to-file-chapter-11-plan-by-dec-14...

The sales of Persioan Gulf Sukuk are notably higher than Shariah-compliant loans in the Middle East, Europe and Africa. This has not happened since 2006. The reason pointed out is that borrowers seize on tumbling yields to finance roads and airports. The sukuk sales in the GCC are almost four times larger this year, to a large extent due to the sales of Saudi Arabian state-run Civil Aviation Authority and of the Qatari government. Compared to that, Shariah-compliant loans show a growth of only 57%.

Read more on: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-10/gulf-sukuk-beat-loans-for-fi...

The Global Islamic Microfinance Forum 2012 will take place from 8th to 10th of December 2012 in Dubai. Major theme of the event is “Islamic Microfinance – A Hope for Poor”. On the 9th and 10th of December there will be an optional workshop titled “Shariah and Marketing Techniques in Microfinance”. Participants will be taught about the Islamic microfinance model. The goal is to encourage its practice on a national as well as international level, including in non-Islamic businesses. The organizer of the event is AlHuda Center of Islamic Banking and Economic (CIBE), a nonprofit consulting firm from Pakistan.

Read more on: http://www.microcapital.org/microfinance-event-alhuda-center-akhuwat-org...

SMEs move from their entrepreneurial phase to a professionally-managed phase. As a result, there is a huge necessity for them to adopt the concept of corporate governance. According to a report by Capita Group International (CGI), Gulf SMEs are not particularly efficient. There is a huge difference between their share of employment and their share of gross domestic product (GDP) to GDP's disadvantage. National Commercial Bank (NCB) shows in a report that the majority of GCC businesses, especially SMEs, demonstrate low efficiency, low growth, little innovation and weak management.

Read more on: http://gulfnews.com/opinions/columnists/challenge-of-entrepreneurship-in...

KPMG's next seminar on "Islamic Finance — Lessons Learnt from other countries and challenges in Oman" will take place on October 15th. Its goal is to gather people involved with both the regulatory and operational aspects of Islamic Finance in Oman. The experience and approaches of other countries in implementing Islamic finance shall be discussed. Furthermore, challenges in this field in Oman shall be pointed out. As a whole, key objectives of KPMG Islamic Finance Advisory Services in Oman are to increase awareness about Islamic Finance, its issues, challenges and solutions.

Read more on: http://main.omanobserver.om/node/113831

In accordance with his tendency to use his fortune to solve global problems of the world’s underprivileged, Bill Gates has turned to Islamic Development Bank (IDB). The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has signed an MOU with IDB which aims to fight communicable disease and food insecurity in poor countries. In a five-year plan established by the MOU, projects concerning agricultural development, malaria prevention and elimination as well as polio eradication will be worked on. Third World countries included in the plan are Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.

Read more on: http://www.theislamicglobe.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article...