IslamicFinance.de

Oil prices have plummeted sharply since mid-2014, putting an end to the commodities super cycle that started a decade ago. S&P Global Ratings expects oil prices will remain substantially below peak levels and stabilize at $50 per barrel by 2018 and beyond. While governments affected by the price drop are looking to spending cuts, taxation, and the privatization of state companies, their financing needs remain significant. Despite the significant drop in oil price since mid-2014, total sukuk issuance didn’t pick up in 2015 or the first half of 2016. In fact, issuance actually dropped in the first half of 2016 by 12.5% compared with the same period in 2015. Issuances in the second half of 2016 will continue to depend on monetary policy developments and volatility in developed markets as well as the policy actions of sovereigns in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Malaysia.