IslamicFinance.de

According to a report by KFH-Research, the Sukuk market in October demonstrated a month-on-month decline in terms of issuance of 24.5% to $8.8 billion. However, compared to last year, these figures show an increase of 61.3%. Sukuk issuance in the first ten months of 2012 totaled $112 billion, which is 59.4% higher than the corresponding period last year. It is even already 31.5% higher than the overall issuance in 2011. The expectations for the current year are for the issuance to reach $130 billion.

According to the CEO of Amana Bank, Faizal Salieh, it is expected for the current $ 250 million of banking assets to rise to $ 1.5 billion in the coming years. About 8% of the country's population of 21.5 million people are Muslims. The strong demand for Islamic financial products comes not only from the Muslim population but from non-Muslims as well. Still at a preliminary stage, the local Islamic finance is nevertheless developing. The expected rapid growth of the local Islamic finance is attributed to the increased awareness of faith based concepts and the internalization of the financial markets.

An Islamic Corporate Social Responsibility (i-CSR) General Practice Framework for Islamic institutions is being developed by researchers at the Accounting Research Institute (ARI) of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM). The framework aims to provide suitable guidance for Islamic institutions in comparison with mainstream CSR which is based on Western practices. The development of the i-CSR framework is part of and the ultimate goal of a research project under the Islamic finance and muamalat domain.

In a statement, Fitch Ratings announced that it assigned the upcoming USD3bn Perusahaan Penerbit SBSN Indonesia III's (PPSI-III) global certificates (Sukuk), due 2022, a rating of 'BBB-(EXP)'. This rating is in accordance with the expectations. Thus, Fitch's view that the cashflows supporting payment on the Sukuk constitute direct, unconditional, unsecured and general obligations of the Republic of Indonesia are confirmed.

Central Bank of Libya's work on plans for the introduction of Sharia-compliant banking in the country's financial sector go on. According to Fatih Aqoub, a consultant engaged on the bank's project, rapid progress has already been made. Since January a special committee has been working on the issue and searching for best practice from other Islamic countries. Amendments to the banking laws were formulated aiming to enable Sharia banking for an interim period before separate legislation is enacted.

The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) tags Sharia-compliant companies in the bourse to attract more funds and, this way, to become part of the trillion-dollar investments of Muslims worldwide. Since investors from Mindanao have preferences regarding investment favouring Indonesia and Malaysia, the company is making a list. Hans Sicat, president of PSE, pointed out that investors' money amounting to more than trillion dollars could be going into Sharia-compliant companies. According to expectations, the list is to be released next year.

Significant growth in the Islamic asset management industry was observed over the past ten years. Starting with structuring and launching of funds, it has developed to a more comprehensive wealth management service. However, the industry has not set its focus on the definition of a suitable asset allocation framework for Islamic investments yet. With the increase of the allocation to sukuk, the selected use of Shariah-compliant derivatives and a risk parity approach to asset allocation can become the foundation for a more effective Islamic portfolio management.

Sukuk sells as high as RM5.3bil are planned by the Finance Ministry aiminig to help the nation’s loss-making carrier buy new aircraft. The sukuk will be under a 20-year programme. Turus Pesawat Sdn Bhd will be responsible for selling the notes, starting marketing this week. The government will purchase six Airbus A380s and two A330s worth RM5.3bil for Malaysian Airlines (MAS). By expanding its fleet, MAS hopes to win back business from AirAsia Bhd.

A new draft of the guidelines on capital adequacy for Islamic banks and the risk management of takaful were released by the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB). The IFSB is responsible for global guidelines for Islamic finance, despite the fact that national financial regulators determine the way guidelines are implemented. The initial guidelines on capital adequacy were released in December 2005 and were based on Basel II standards. The new stricter Basel III made amendments to the guidelines necessary.

Well, repeatedly we read and hear about the lack of profit/loss sharing (equity finance) in Islamic finance. Here my five cents about it:

1) Islamic commercial law, Fiqh Muamalat, per se has no preference of either permissible mode of finance, be it musharaka, ijara or murabaha whatsoever. All is halal. However, the call for modesty of debt in many hadith and the seriousness of being indebted upon death (withholding of death prayer) shows a call for a solid equity portion in business; let's call it a technical preference.

2) If we look up all debt financing modes (e.g.Murabaha, Ijara) there are remaining difficulties to finance wages, rents and installments on fresh debt. This is a true indicator for a required minimum amount of equity in a company.

3) Point 1) and 2) leads us to demand a sound debt/equity ratio.

the new Chairman of the Securities Commission of Malaysia - Ranjit Ajit Singh - said he wanted to see the emergence of an internationalized single Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) asset class which would be able to compete with other major regional or global asset classes. He further added that internationalization of the Malaysian capital market as well as of ASEAN as a single asset class is necessary. The capital markets of all the member countries will profit from better and wider access due to success of ASEAN as a single asset class on the global stage.

Read more on: http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20...

IslamicFinance.de offers an overview about new job openings of October 2012 herewith - firms aiming to be included please send a job profile/hyperlink to newsdesk@islamicfinance.de - the full details of the advert has to be accessed by the hyperlink below the brief description:

Product Manager, Islamic Banking

Standard Chartered Bank - United Arab Emirates-SCB (United Arab Emirates)
Job Description
?Development of Islamic wealth products across CBMS, insurance and investment streams to create customer value proposition.
?Ensure successful implementation of the Islamic banking strategy across high value segment.
?Concentrated responsibility to work with the Priority/Wealth/Private/SME product/frontline teams and support functions to build on the current Islamic banking capabilities and to create seamless customer experience
?Act as a product specialist for RMs on client meetings to introduce and explain the Saadiq solutions to meet their needs
?Financial budgeting and business forecast. Evaluation of financial performance.

Ahmad Rizlan was apoointed as the new CEO of Etiqa Takaful Bhd by Etiqa Insurance & Takaful. The new CEO has to report to the CEO of Etiqa Insurance & Takaful since the latter is responsible for the entire insurance and takaful group. Rizlan will be in charge of leading the takaful business in Etiqa including the performance of Etiqa Takaful here and regionally.

Read more on: http://www.thesundaily.my/news/529859

CEO of AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics - Zubair Mughal - explained at an International Microfinance Conference in at an International Microfinance Conference that in the time of the global financial crisis even developed countries are making efforts to fight the global issue of poverty. The conference was organised by the Government of Indonesia together with the World Bank. 600 people took part in the conference, among them delegates and experts from 30 different countries. Some of the prominent participants were President of Indonesia Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Noble Prize Winner Dr Muhammad Yunus, Director of Global Microcredit Summit Campaign Dr Larry Reed, and Mayada El. Zoghbhi from the World Bank.

Read more on: http://www.brecorder.com/money-a-banking/198/1253396/

The government of Hong Kong released the conclusions of a consultation which ended in May 2012. Thus, a taxation framework for Islamic bonds is provided on a par with that for conventional bonds. The promotion of Islamic finance development in Hong Kong has been taken into consideration. Due to Hong Kong's leading role as an international financial centre and China's global financial centre, Hong Kong is able to match the needs of fund raisers and investment demands of investors among China, the Middle East and other parts of the world interested in Islamic financial products. The legislative amendments released are expected to contribute to anchoring more asset management activities in Hong Kong.

Read more on: http://www.tax-news.com/news/Hong_Kong_Releases_Consultation_Conclusions...

Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) intends to make a revision of its capital adequacy guidelines for Islamic financial institutions. The draft for industry feedback is to be released in November. Although IFSB determines the global guidelines for Islamic finance, national financial regulators have the final say regarding how much capital banks must maintain and in what form. The revision is necessary due to the change from Basel II standards to the stricter Basel III standards.

Read more on: http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/latest-news/212596-ifsb-to-revise-capital-a...

The plans of the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) are directed towards revising its capital adequacy guidelines for Islamic financial institutions. The draft is expected to be issued in November in order to receive industry feedback. While the IFSB is responsible for the global guidelines for Islamic finance, national financial regulators determine how much capital banks must maintain and in what form. The original guidelines on capital adequacy were released by the IFSB in December 2005. At that time, they were based on Basel II standards. However, now stricter Basel III standards are used which require corresponding changes in the guidelines.

Read more on: http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=540592...

TH Plantations Bhd (THP) has made a sukuk murabahah programme worth up to RM1bil in nominal value. The establishment is made together with the Pilgrimage Fund Board. THP made known to Bursa Malaysia that RM200mil of sukuk have been issued as part of the programme. The tenure of the sukuk is up to 15 years with a maturity date Oct 29, 2027.

Read more on: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/10/31/business/12250...

According to an announcement by the Kuala Lumpur Islamic Financial Forum (KLIFF), Al Rajhi Bank is awarded The Most Outstanding Islamic Finance Product for its Al Rajhi Collateralised Commodity Murabahah-i (CCM-i). The Islamic Finance Awards 2012 ceremony took place in conjunction with the 9th Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum (KLIFF 2012).

Read more on: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v6/newsindex.php?id=705234

KFH Malaysia has made a calling for better awareness among customers on the topic of Islamic banking. Customers should know that Islamic bank is an alternative financial approach but also that, in some aspects, it has better value propositions. The Islamic finance industry has been functioning for 30 years already. With over 300 Islamic financial institutions worldwide in 75 countries, it is a fast growing financial branch where 100 largest Islamic banks register an annual asset growth rate of 26.7%.

Read more on: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/10/27/islamic-banking-provides-better-...