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| Islamic Banking in the Spotlight |
| 2010.08.13 23:15:47 | |
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Lahem al-Nasser stated that Islamic banking will benefit from the exposure that is has gained after the financial crisis. ABC Islamic Bank posted a net profit of $1.4 billion for the first half of the year. Al Baraka Banking Group’s net income was up 3% in the first half of the year. The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) carried out $1.253 billion of finance operations in the first half of the year. Tags: islamic finance | financial crisis |
| Sukuk Defaults |
| 2010.08.09 19:49:51 | |
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Sukuk defaults are not caused by the fact that they are Islamic financial products. The Islamic finance industry was not devastated by the recent financial crisis like conventional finance was. The financial crisis did hurt the Islamic finance industry because it is a part of the global economy. Holding conferences to enlighten people about the inherent conservatism and ethical nature of Islamic finance is very important for the future of the industry. Sukuk defaults in Kuwait have raised concerns about the regulation of financial and capital markets in that nation. The Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia gave recommendations for how the Islamic finance industry can continue to move forward. EON Bank Group stated that it is bullish on Islamic home loans. The Indonesian Ministry of Finance sold $325 million of sukuk to the government-controlled Haj Fund. Deutsche Gulf Finance launched an Islamic financial product that allows consumers to unlock equity in their home. Islamic finance has a bright future in Europe despite recent setbacks. United Arab Bank launched an interest free Islamic Credit Card. BMI Bank appointed Salah Khalifa Head of Islamic Financial Services. Former CEO of Unicorn Investment Bank Majid Al Refai left the company. The Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) admitted four new members. Tags: Sukuk | financial crisis | Malaysia | Haj | Indonesia | Kuwait | Europe
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| Islamic Microfinance |
| 2010.08.06 22:37:05 | |
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The Family Bank of Bahrain provides Islamic microloans to the poor. Creating microloans that are not interest based will help demonstrate the advantages of Islamic finance over conventional finance. Some conventional microloans charge over 100% per year in interest. You are not helping the poor if you are charging them interest regardless of the success of their small business. Tags: islamic finance | Islamic microloans |
| The Potential of Islamic Finance |
| 2010.08.06 00:02:32 | |
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The Acting Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan said that the Islamic finance industry has great potential and that it should not blindly follow the conventional financial industry. Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd plans to issue RM 3.1 Billion of Islamic bonds. Kuwait’s International Investment Group was unable to make a $152.5 million sukuk payment last month and will not pay any dividends for 2009. BMI Bank appointed a new head of Islamic Financial Services. Islamic stock funds in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Pakistan provided excellent returns. Tags: islamic finance | Kuwait | Sri Lanka | Thailand | Pakistan | Islamic bonds |
| One Ummah Foundation |
| 2010.08.05 15:23:54 | |
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Here is an excellent organization dedicated to helping those that need it the most. An astounding 100% of every donation goes directly to people in need (no donation money goes to pay staff or other administrative expenses). The organization's Kanji for the poor program has enough donations to provide 75,000 dinners for the poor during Ramadan at 10 cents a dinner. Their goal is to have 200,000 dinners for the poor. Tags: One Ummah Foundation
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| BMB's Global Islamic Finance Report |
| 2010.08.04 23:54:47 | |
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BMB Islamic issued the Global Islamic Finance Report 2010 with the help of 30 Islamic finance and banking experts. This report is especially welcome because it provides insight into how Islamic finance can be integrated into every level of society. Asian countries like Malaysia and Indonesia recognize the value of sukuk. Axiata Group will sell 4.2 Billion Malaysian ringgits worth of sukuk. Bank Ina will become an Islamic bank Tags: Malaysia | Indonesia | Sukuk | islamic finance | islamic bank
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| Emirates Islamic Bank Lends Under New Government Initiative |
| 2010.08.03 23:58:35 | |
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The Emirates Islamic Bank (EIB) became the first bank to lend under a new Dubai Government plan to guarantee financing for some property developments. Khazanah Nasional Bhd issued a $1.5 sukuk. The Arab Bank Group’s net profits fell 11.8% in the first six months of the year. Unicorn Investment Bank announced that Ikbal Daredia will be their interim CEO. The Bahrain Financial Exchange (BFX) announced that it has a new Sharia advisor. Tags: dubai | islamic finance | Sharia advisor | Sukuk
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| Islamic Finance Standards |
| 2010.08.03 00:06:50 | |
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The Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) issued new accounting standards to insure that Islamic financial institutions are transparent. This will help increase the appeal of Islamic investing. The AAOIFI also issued guidelines for the Sharia scholars that advise Islamic financial institutions. Some conventional investors are becoming less interested in sukuk. The value of bonds and sukuk issues by members of the GCC dropped 32% in the first half of this year. The Islamic Research and Training Institute is seeking research papers on Islamic finance for a seminar in Kochi. The Quata International Islamic Bank is providing a lifeline to the Islamic Bank of Britian. The Malaysian Monarch will grant an award for a significant contribution to the industry of Islamic finance. Tags: islamic finance |
| Greece Needs Islamic Finance |
| 2010.07.30 23:17:00 | |
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Greece needs Islamic investors. Greece is seeking investment from the Arab world but what it really needs is Islamic investment from the entire world. Greece built up a huge deficit and it is no surprise that this usury is causing catastrophic problems for the country. What Greece really needs is an injection of money from ethical investors that are willing to share the risks and the profits of the Greek businesses that they invest in. Tags: Greece | islamic finance | Greek debt crisis
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| Islamic Windows of Conventional Banks |
| 2010.07.29 23:13:00 | |
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Many conventional banks have reacted to the astounding growth of Islamic finance by creating Islamic windows. These windows are supposed to be separate from the rest of the conventional bank but as this article states, you must be careful to make sure that there is a true separation between these two entities. Kuwait’s International Investment Group defaulted on an Islamic bond. The International Islamic Finance Market released a paper on the possibilities of creating a repo-like Islamic finance product. Moody’s issued a positive statement about the Islamic Development Bank.
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| Advantages of Islamic Finance |
| 2010.07.28 23:54:57 | |
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Islamic finance benefits from transparency and lower volatility as this article notes. Islamic finance does not allow investments in overly leveraged firms that produce volatile returns. The recent financial crisis showed the world what happens to over-leveraged firms during a recession, making Islamic finance very attractive to non-Muslim investors as well as Muslim investors. Tags: islamic finance | financial crisis |
| Thailand's First Sukuk Sale |
| 2010.07.28 19:43:45 | |
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Here is an encouraging article about Thailand realizing that its Muslims will increasingly demand Islamic financial products and that the nation can use this ethical form of financing to fund infrastructure projects. |
| We Need an Islamic SWF |
| 2010.07.27 23:39:36 | |
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This article outlines what Islamic finance needs in order to move forward and calls for and Islamic Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF): Click here to view article. The article notes that Islamic finance needs more scholars to get from the $1 trillion mark to the $2 trillion mark and the Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad Center for Islamic Finance will help make that happen. One of the key issues raised is that Muslim nations should create an Islamic SWF that is transparent. A transparent Islamic SWF would showcase the benefits of Islamic investing to both the Gulf Region and the entire world because of the size of Sovereign Wealth Funds. The Nations that have Sovereign Wealth Funds use them to invest money from oil and gas revenue for the future of their people, what better way to help your citizens then by avoiding industries that would harm them? Tags: SWF | islamic finance
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| Former Supreme Court Justice of India Supports Islamic Finance |
| 2010.07.26 22:02:58 | |
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Former Supreme Court Justice of India Krishna Iyer announced his support for Islamic finance in India: Click here to view article. The important thing to note about Justice Iyer’s support for Islamic finance is that it is based on what Islamic finance can do for millions of starving Indians. Microfinance is still usury if it is charging these poor Indians 30% interest on their loans whether or not their business succeeds. This is why Islamic finance is needed in India. Tags: islamic finance | Microfinance | India |
| South Africa and Islamic Finance |
| 2010.07.26 19:56:39 | |
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The financial crisis has led many banks all over the world to stop providing financial products that people need. This should be a time of great expansion for Islamic finance as people clamor for ethical financial products; usury-free ways of launching small businesses. Here is a concerning article about the lack of Islamic banks in South Africa, a country with millions of Muslims: Click here to view article. Demand for Islamic financial products will increase dramatically when these products are understood by consumers. This is why the Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad Center for Islamic Finance is working to increase understanding of Islamic finance; the people of nations as diverse as South Africa and America need ethical investing. When more people understand Islamic finance more Islamic banks will be created, driving up competition and eliminating the inexcusable fees that some South African Islamic banks charge. Tags: South Africa | islamic finance | financial crisis
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| Indonesian Sukuk |
| 2010.07.26 19:05:04 | |
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Indonesia survived the financial crisis that rocked the western world nearly unscathed. The country survived because its economy is builton domestic consumption, not over-consumption financed by haram financial products. Here is article about how Indonisia, the nation with the largest Muslim population in the world, is issuing sukuk: Click here to view article. The growth of Islamic finance in the world’s fourth most populated country is an excellent sign, despite whatever short term concerns some investors have about the liquidity of Indonesian sukuk. |
| Islamic Finance and Australia |
| 2010.07.21 22:18:10 | |
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It is important to remember that Islamic finance is about sharing both risks and rewards. Legitimate profit can be made by having the investor and the investee enter into business together. Many non-Muslim investors, as well as Muslim investors, are attracted to Halal finance because of it is ethical investing. Investors don’t want to be loan sharks. Businesses that need financing do not want to deal with usury. This is why Australia is excited about the prospect of Islamic financial institutions investing in their nation, not just because it is such a large potential source of capital: Click here to view article. Tags: islamic finance | Australia |
