IslamicFinance.de

The increase in bank robberies and fraud cases in Syria deepens the country's state of trouble. Already there are alerts to the country's stock exchange about major robberies in separate filings by foreign-backed lenders. A robbery in Homsled to the loss of 75.2 million Syrian pounds (Dh4.12m) which is a huge sum compared with 200m pounds profit the bank made last year. Unfortunately, the frequency of such incidents only gets higher.

More on: http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/industry-insights/econ...

Even though Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population, it is hardly present on the Islamic finance scene in contrast to its neighbour Malaysia. This is a problem that needs to be worked on becuase Islamic finance can be a perfect means of solving two significant financial challenges. The first one is funding infrastructure and the second - reducing its dependency on foreign borrowing. Indonesia should take advantage of Malaysia's experience in Islamic financing and develop its own Islamic capital markets. It would be even possible to exploit the deep liquidity pool created by Malaysia.

More on: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/19/indonesia-islamic-finance-idUS...

The Irish Electricity Supply Board (ESB) considers issuing a sukuk in Malaysia which would make it the first large non-financial company from Europe to involve in trade with Islamic bonds. Issuing a sukuk is likely to contribute to the development of a new source of funding for companies in Europe while the euro zone debt crisis constrains sources of finance at home.

More on: http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/20/islamic-ireland-sukuk-idINL5E8K...

Egyptian company Ridge Islamic Capital has announced to have $100 million which it plans to use for raising its capital and investing in funds over the following two years. Thus, it shall take advantage of the growing Islamic financial market. After Dubai-based Ridge Solutions International Holdings, the company for regional investment which provided the money for Ridge Islamic Capital, acquired Egyptian investment banking and asset management firm El Rashad, Ridge Islamic Capital was launched on Wednesday. Even though El Rashad uses conventional financial operations, Ridge will convert its assets in sharia compliant ones over a period of about two years. Future investments are all to be subject to Islamic principles.

More on: http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFJOE88J00J20120920

According to Reserve Bank of India, Indian banks are not legally allowed to involve in Islamic banking operations. Even though India is the country with the third largest Muslim population, Islamic finance has been denied several times already. Due to lack of interest-free banking products people, economically disadvantaged strata of society, cannot access banking products and services because of faith issues. In addition, India is cut off substantial sources of savings from near countries.

More on: http://www.cpifinancial.net/blog/post/15763/interest-free-in-india

After Dana Gas PJSC's biggest shareholder announced the possibility for the fuel producer to come to a satisfactory resolution with investors on $1 billion in Islamic bonds maturing next month, the company has surged significantly. The shares soared the highest percentage since February 19th - 4.9%. Abu Dhabi’s benchmark ADX General Index (ADSMI) and the Bloomberg GCC 200 Index (BGCC200) display Dana Gas as the company with the highest trading volume.

More on http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-19/dana-surges-as-investors-see-su...

The BNP Paribas-INCEIF Centre for Islamic Wealth Management was recently opened. It was established by BNP Paribas Malaysia Berhad and the International Center for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF) and is situated on INCEIF's Campus in Kuala Lumpur. The opening took place at the same time as the biannual Global Islamic Finance Forum, thus attracting a vast audience consisting of participants from Malaysia as well as international ones.

More on:http://www.investmenteurope.net/investment-europe/news/2206560/bnp-paribas-partners-for-islamic-finance-centre-in-malaysia

According to its Managing Director/Chief Executive - Mallam Mohammed Bintube - Jaiz Bank Plc is ready for the acquisition of a a national banking license in the following year. The required minimum capital is already raised usong private placement. Mallam Mohammed Bintube pointed out that it took as little as three months for all shares on offer to be fully subscribed.

More on: http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/jaiz-bank-to-acquire-national-bankin...

At the Global Islamic Finance Forum (GIFF) 2012 in Kuala Lumpur the new Thomson Reuters Global Sukuk Index and the MYR-denominated Bloomberg AIBIM Bursa Malaysia Corporate Sukuk Index were brought into public. The Islamic finance industry demonstrates a growth of more than 15% a year, its leading area being the Islamic debt capital market, primarily constituted of Sukuk. According to Thomson Reuters, the Global Sukuk Index is likely to contribute to the increase in secondary market trading as well as to the facilitation of cross-market relative value trading among different asset classes.

More on: http://www.cpifinancial.net/news/post/15752/thomson-reuters-bloomberg-bo...

The second tranche of Malaysia Airlines' (MAS) junior Sukuk of RM500mil has been issued. Its role is to provide working capital and refinancing of existing borrowings. According to MAS, the junior Sukuk has a semi-annual profit rate of 6.90% a year up to the tenth year.

More on: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/18/business/201209...

KFH-Bahrain plans to launch a new financing product for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in partnership with Tamkeen. The new product will offer unique Islamic financing solutions and a subsidy of 50%. Thus, the growth of the corresponding companies shall be supported.

More on: http://www.zawya.com/story/KFHBahrain_launches_SMEs_Finance_programme_wi...

The expextations for the next three years are for global Islamic finance assets to grow between 10% and 15% a year. They will be supported by strong demand and supply factors as well as effective regulation and quality of services. Since the number of banks that offer Islamic finance and profit and loss sharing products is continually increasing, competition will contribute to the assets' growth.

More on: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/19/business/120456...

In a recent announcement UBL Fund Managersstated that it will launch its new Shariah-compliant investment scheme. The scheme known under the name UBL Islamic Cash Fund is described as an Islamic Money Market Scheme with clients who have cash lying idle in a current account as a target group. Investing in UBL Islamic Cash Fund will enable customers to earn a competitive return which will be calculated and announced on a daily basis.

More on: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\09\19\story_19-9-2012_pg10_3

After legal proceedings were lobbed at Dubai Group over its US$10bil debt, the question arose what can be expected regarding the 30.5% interest it held in Bank Islam, where 51% of it belongs to BIMB. It is suggested that BIMB may acquire the stake from the Dubai state investment vehicle. In this way it will gain practically full control of Bank Islam. A notable fact is that BIMB as well as Bank Islam share a common shareholder pilgrim fund Lembaga Tabung Haji, which owns 51.76% of the former and 18.5% of the latter.

More on: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/9/17/business/120386...

The market in the US and Europe is galvanized by central bank operations. Meanwhile, yield-starved Islamic investors grow more and more selective. High interest for emerging market bonds resulted in erosion of the advantage in price that sukuk enjoyed until recently. It is possible that issuers will not be able to save as much as 40bp with suku any longer. At the same time, according to S&P, borrowers have raised USD19.2bn so far in 2012.

More on: http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/17/idINL5E8KHMON20120917

Saudi Arabia boasts with good news: home lending is growing rapidly in the second quarter of this year, faster than during any period in the last over four years. This is an indication that banks are open and willing to take risk as the nation's mortgage law comes into effect. Central bank data show an increase in the mortgage lending to 48 billion riyals (US$12.8 billion) which constitutes 83%. Copmared to this, the increase for the same period in UAE was lower than 1% and 34% in Qatar.

More on: http://www.irealtytimes.com/articles/2781/20120917/middle-east-real-esta...

After bein inactive on the suku market for 2 years, Qatar Islamic bank (QIB) is about to launch a new sukuk program. The bank's board has approved a sum of $1.5 billion for this purpose. According to a spokesman of the bank, the issuance will be managed by HSBC Holdings PLC, Standard Chartered PLC, QInvest LLC and Deutsche Bank AG. The issuance will take place in two tranches of of $750 million. The first one will probably be issued in a month's time.

More on: http://me-confidential.com/5664-qatar-another-sukuk-program.html

Baker & McKenzie assisted Saudi Binladin Group with a SAR 1,000,000,000 short term sukuk al murabaha. The sukuk was issued by SBG Sukuk Limited as an exempt offering in Saudi Arabia. The sole Lead Manager in relation to the transaction is HSBC Saudi Arabia.

More on: http://www.zawya.com/story/Baker__McKenzie_act_for_Saudi_Binladin_Group_...

Recently a number of GCC companies issued landmark corporate and infrastructure sukuk in Malaysian ringgit. According to a report by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, this might be a sign of a starting trend of development and globalization of the market. Islamic financial instruments are becoming more popular since conventional banks worldwide offer fewer and shorter loans. Especially for countries of GCC and Asia, Islamic financial instruments will very probably become a key funding source.

More on: http://gulfnews.com/business/banking/gcc-and-asia-likely-to-use-sukuk-fu...

Islamic Development Bank intends to finance projects worth 1 billion USD in Kasakhstan, thus implementing the country strategy. At the beginning of October a new country strategy of the bank in Kazakhstan will be signed. According to plan, in the following 2 years IDB will provide financial means for a number of projects.

More on: http://caspionet.kz/eng/business/In_20122014_IDB_will_finance_Kazakhstan...