IslamicFinance.de

Md Asaduzzaman Khan has recently been reappointed as managing director of IIDFC. A career central banker, Khan joined IIDFC after taking voluntary retirement as executive director of Bangladesh Bank in 2008. He is an MA in economics from Dhaka University and an MA in banking and finance from the University of Wales, UK. He was appointed as administrator of the then Oriental Bank Ltd (now ICB Islamic Bank Ltd) in July 2008. He was also the managing director of the security printing press of the central bank at Gazipur. He is also a director of ICB Capital Management Ltd, a member-cum-director of IIDFC Securities Ltd and a former director of the Dhaka Stock Exchange.

Sukuk issuance fell in pre-Ramadan June and growth momentum is expected to ease in the coming months after yields surged to a 25-month high, says the Malaysia Islamic Financial Centre (MIFC). The primary sukuk market this year has outpaced the previous year every month since January 2013, except June, which saw a noticeable slow down, says MIFC's second-quarter report. Momentum is expected ease as investors weigh US monetary policies in the coming months.

Hong Kong has reiterated its desire to become a hub for Islamic bonds, finally changing its tax laws to be much more sukuk friendly. But with no natural investor or issuer base for the product, and rising competition from better suited Asian countries, Hong Kong will only ever be an also-ran.

The Malaysia-based International Islamic Liquidity Management Corp. (IILM) has reshuffled its Shariah board, losing four of its original six members. The IILM has been troubled by internal management upheaval, like the change of its chief executive late last year and the surprise pullout of Saudi Arabia's central bank in April this year. The changes to the Shariah board, which monitors the IILM's activities and instruments to ensure that they follow Islamic principles, could indicate further delays to the body's plan to begin issuing sukuk. The IILM announced in April that it aimed to make an initial issue worth up to $500 million in the second quarter of this year but has not yet proceeded with the plan, and it has not given a new time frame for it. The body did not issue a statement on the changes to its Shariah board.

Takaful operators in Malaysia are aggressively strategising their operations to ensure profitable growth and taking advantage of the five-year time frame given to composite takaful players to fully comply with the new Islamic Financial Services Act (IFSA). Under the Financial Services Act (FSA) and IFSA, which came into force on July 1, composite insurers and takaful players would be, among others, required to split their life and general insurance businesses under separate licences. Takaful Malaysia group managing director Datuk Mohamed Hassan Kamil said his company will be devising and evaluating potential options to achieve more efficient solutions from the capital management and shareholder return perspectives. On whether the Act would take a hit on Takaful Malaysia’s bottomline in view of the split in operations of its family (life) and general businesses, Hassan said although there would be potentially higher cost initially due to start-up costs, in the long run.

Syarikat Takaful Malaysia remains in the hunt for a strategic partner in Indonesia to help expand its distribution network there. The takaful operator was in talks to sell a stake or issue new shares in its Indonesian unit to a local partner last year, but the deal fell through. According to Takaful Malaysia Group managing director Mohammad Hassan Kamil, the group has not given up on its search for a strategic partner and is still actively scouting. Takaful Malayisa needs a strategic partner to put in the capital as well as provide the necessary expertise and people to help run the company. The Indonesian operations currently contribute less than 15% of the group's total revenue and less than 5% of its earnings. However, analysts say that the group's operations in Indonesia are poised for explosive growth of high double-digit rates in the next two to four years.

Indonesian Bank Muamalat has implemented Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking to streamline its core business processes and to enhance productivity. Oracle FLEXCUBE is now live across all of Bank Muamalat's branches and e-channel network (ATM, EDC, etc) including mobile branches. It covers its retail and corporate banking business, including treasury and trade, all in compliance with Shariah Laws. The implementation was completed well within time and within Budget. By implementing Oracle FLEXCUBE Universal Banking, the institution has been able to improve business processes and significantly reduce processing times required for financial and administrative transactions. FLEXCUBE has helped to support 24-hour banking operations as well as enable enhanced customer insight and simulations to deliver excellent customer service.

The shift in global banking is not a trend, and the challenge for all of us is to bridge the gap in financial practice and seize the opportunities that lie ahead, bringing ethics back into finance.

Thomson Reuters and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) are partnering to launch the world’s first Ethical Finance Innovation Challenge and Awards (EFICA). In the dawn of a new economic world, these awards are designed to inspire and recognise a fresh way of thinking by promoting some of the most dynamic, innovative ideas and solutions around integrity and growth.

BIMB Holdings Bhd is likely to conclude the purchase of the 18.5% stake held by Lembaga Tabung Haji (LTH) in Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd by the end of the month. BIMB owns 51% of Bank Islam, while the remaining 30.5% stake is held by Dubai Financial Group (DFG). LTH, meanwhile, is the ultimate holding company of both BIMB and Bank Islam. Apart from its direct interest in Bank Islam, the pilgrim fund also owns a 51.5% stake in BIMB. There were reportedly no problems in the talks between BIMB and LTH, with pricing done at arm’s length on market benchmarks and in the best interest of the shareholders. The two block of shares are likely to be valued between 1.6 times and 1.8 times price-to-book value. If both talks with DFG and LTH were successful, then BIMB would fully own Bank Islam. An announcement on both stake sales is expectyed to be made by end-July.

Bank Islam Malaysia is exploring opportunities to expand its business in South-East Asia, especially in Indonesia. However, the bank has not identified suitable joint-venture partners to penetrate foreign market, according to its managing director, Datuk Zukri Samat. Bank Islam was earlier reported to have held talks with an Islamic bank in Indonesia to acquire up to 40% stake in the latter. Meanwhile, Zukri said, the bank aimed to expand its operations by opening five branches nationwide by year-end. Bank Islam recently closed a deal regarding a business zakat of RM320,000 to Majlis Agama Islam Johor. Zukri said the zakat payment represented part of the total RM9.2mil for financial year 2012, based on its profit of RM600mil the previous year.

Malaysia's new Islamic Financial Services Act (IFSA) gives regulators greater oversight as the country seeks to retain its position as the world's second-largest Islamic Banking market. The new rules will boost protection for depositors by making religious advisers legally accountable for financial products, and liable to steep fines and prison time for wrongdoing. The new rules also include a plan to require Islamic life insurers to separate the life arm from other parts of their business. The regulations also could spur takeovers in the Islamic insurance sector through capital-base provisions that encourage larger participants. The IFSA also gives Malaysia's finance ministry more powers to further scrutinise financial holding companies and non-regulated entities if they pose a risk to financial stability.

Takaful Ikhlas allocates close to RM200,000 to carry out its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes for the whole month of Ramadan. On July 11, the company contributed RM16,000 to the Al-Ikhlas Home of Elderly Care and Treatment in Puchong, Selangor through its Ramadan programme. Besides this contribution, other daily necessities are also provided including medicine, clothing, food as well as other needs to manage the home.Earlier, 66 residents of the home received free health examinations before attending a special religious class by the company's employees besides a get-together session and iftar dinner. Various activities have been planned during Ramadan such as the exclusive cooperation 'Titipan Kasih Harian Metro' at Olak Lempit, 'Bubur Lambuk' programme, 'Salam Sahur', 'Kasih Syawal', health examination for chronic patients and 'Jom Beli Baju Raya', which will be held nationwide.

Baittul Maal wa Tamwil (BMT) Microfinance system which is being working in Indonesia should be introduced all-around the globe as the best system to eliminate poverty, Chief Executive Officer of Al-Huda Center of Islamic Banking and Economics Mr. Muhammad Zubair Mughal said. He was speaking at the International conference for “ Empowering SMEs for Financial Inclusion and Growth” held in Indonesia. During his address Mr. Zubair Mughal said, BMT has played an important role for the alleviation of poverty in Indonesia but unfortunately, these methods are being limited to Indonesia only. He stated that new Islamic Microfinance methods of BMT should be available along with Murabaha, Salam, Mudarabah, Qarz-e-Hasna and Waqf to Islamic Microfinance Institutes globally. He further added that Islamic Microfinance is very important along with branchless banking, product innovation and financial literacy in order to achieve financial inclusion for the Muslim population. The Global Islamic Microfinance Forum is going to be held on October 16, 2013 in Dubai, to compile the strategy to strengthen the Islamic Microfinance industry, he ended.

Syarikat Takaful Malaysia has put all future investments on hold until it gets a clearer picture on the newly-enforced Islamic Financial Services Act (IFSA). The takaful player had planned to make its first foray into the overseas property market last year and was vying for high yielding properties in London, the UK. However, with news of sweeping regulatory changes expected to be introduced under the IFSA, Takaful Malaysia is temporarily suspending plans. The firm has to study on how to utilise the required financial holding company as a vehicle for us to purchase foreign properties, according to group managing director Datuk Mohamed Hassan Kamil. As such, Takaful Malaysia is holding back its property purchases for now because later when the company is split into two separate units, it would be difficult with the property investment in the mix. Takaful Malaysia will have about RM335 million for property investment overseas.

Bank Asya is eager to achieve bilateral trade between the Indian and Turkish economies worth $15 billion over the next five years. Officials of the Turkish Islamic lender Bank Asya were in Mumbai to discuss the rapidly growing business ties between India and Turkey. The proximity of financial institutes between the two economies would benefit business and trade, according to Cenk Karacaoglu, Vice President, Bank Asya, Turkey. The rapidly growing Indian economy presents huge potential for business and trade with Turkey, he added. The bank will further expand business with Indian companies. Bank Asya has agreed to offer Shariah compliant banking facilities in India and was awaiting the regulator's nod.

Malaysian Rating Corporation (MARC) has affirmed its AAA/MARC-1 financial institution (FI) ratings on Maybank Islamic and AA+IS rating on Maybank Islamic's 1.0 billion ringgit Islamic Subordinated Sukuk (Subordinated Sukuk). The outlook on the ratings is stable. The Subordinated Sukuk, which qualifies as Tier-2 capital for Maybank Islamic, is rated one notch lower than the bank's FI rating in accordance with MARC's notching policy for subordinated debt issued by a AAA-rated bank. Positive rating drivers include Maybank Islamic's leading position as the largest Islamic bank in Malaysia, healthy capitalisation, sustainable earnings, and sound liquidity and funding profile. The ratings also factor in the high likelihood of full financial support from the parent/group Malayan Banking. Constraining the ratings are continued margin compression and fierce competition as well as Maybank Islamic's increased exposure to risks associated with regional expansion.

Over the past three years, the Hult Prize has taken on some of the planet's toughest challenges. These have included Education, Energy, Housing, and Water. For the 2013 Prize, President Clinton has personally selected the challenge: the Global Food Crisis.

A detailed case study, narrated by President Bill Clinton, will be released to all selected participants in early January to set the framework for this year's challenge. Competitors will then be asked to develop social enterprises that answer the President's Challenge.

The global food crisis can be approached through multiple lenses, such as: distribution, manufacturing, production, technology and many others. Each, represents an opportunity for innovation. Nearly 1 Billion people in the World are Hungry, that is over 1 out of every 4 children. Ironically, our global economy produces enough food each year to feed everyone, however more than one-third of the food generated for human consumption continues to be lost or wasted.

Franklin Templeton Investments and ECM Libra Financial Group Bhd say they are favouring Malaysian corporate sukuk, which has outperformed as the Federal Reserve considers ending stimulus. Corporate sukuk benefits from a higher degree of scarcity than for government debt. Sales of Malaysian-currency Islamic bonds fell 63 per cent to RM19.9 billion in 2013 from the year-earlier period, worsening the lack of supply. Company bond offers in the Southeast Asian nation, including sukuk and non-Islamic notes, will total RM70 billion to RM85 billion in 2013. However, corporate bond market issuance is expected to remain relatively strong in the second half as the yield curve will likely steepen beyond 2013. Malaysian corporate sukuk are considered less volatile and they provide some yield pick-up over government bonds.

Standard Chartered Plc will start offering Islamic banking in Kenya as a springboard into the rest of Africa, Wasim Saifi, its global head of Islamic consumer banking said. Moreover, it may expand services in Indonesia. He said the bank would offer the services through its Islamic banking brand, Standard Chartered Saadiq, targeting the country’s official Muslim population of 4 million people, as well as non-Muslims. The new products will first be launched in Kenya, then in other countries in east Africa and west Africa, as well as further afield. Especially Indonesia is interesting to the bank because Islamic finance is set to triple or quadruple in the next five-ten years in the country. Standard Chartered currently offers Islamic banking in Indonesia through associate Bank Permata

The state-owned Islamic Bank of Thailand (IBank) believes its capital-adequacy ratio will return to positive territory this year. The expectation stems from applying the Finance Ministry's loan-loss provision requirements, which are less stringent than the Bank of Thailand's. The Finance Ministry requires the bank to set aside only 9-10 billion baht in loan-loss provision reserves based on 2012 performance. However, it reserved 15 billion baht to comply with central bank. According to Thongrob Danampai, chairman of IBank's executive committee, IBank's non-performing loans (NPLs) amounted to 38.5 billion baht as of last Dec 31 or 34.2% of its total lending. IBank's suspension of working-capital loans late last year could be blamed for a 15-billion-baht. IBank expects to resolve 20 billion baht in NPLs this year.