Latest articles from Islamic Finance

Scholars and scale

March 3, 2010

Growing demand: two women open sharia bank accounts at Bank Negara Indonesia

Leading Islamic retail banks are developing increasingly sophisticated systems to maintain sharia compliance in an evolving market. Writer Philip Alexander

Gulf Islamic banks gear up for a change

February 1, 2010

Majid Al-Refai, CEO of sharia-compliant Bahrain-based Unicorn Investment Bank

After a turbulent year bookended by the near default on a large Dubai sukuk, the Middle East's Islamic banking community is taking stock. Writer James Gavin

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Is foreign investment the answer to Iraq's banking needs?

December 30, 2009

A muscular banking sector will make or break whether Iraq is to rebuild and prosper. And while there are increasing levels of capital inflow into the region, local banking infrastructure remains limited, leaving the sector wide open for foreign investment. Writer Courtney Fingar in Baghdad

Hidden strengths propel growth

December 30, 2009

Despite Malaysia's reticence in establishing itself as a globally recognised financial centre, it is now moving forward fast. Bank Negara Malaysia governor Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz discusses the role of Islamic finance products in the country's push. Writer Silvia Pavoni

The participation principle

December 30, 2009

Yunus Nacar, CEO of Türkiye Finans

Turkey's Islamic participation banks are becoming more ambitious, but are still looking for a model that competes more effectively with the conventional market. Writer James Gavin

Balancing innovation and tradition

September 2, 2009

The regulatory authorities of Islamic finance have been working to bring greater clarity to the relatively young sukuk asset class, but the market will need time to digest the implications. Writer Philip Alexander

Sukuk market faces stern test of maturity

July 7, 2009

Issuer defaults and high exposure to falling Gulf real estate markets have cast doubt over the stability of Islamic capital markets, but a difficult year could help create a more established asset class in the future. Writer Philip Alexander

Gold securities trading, the Islamic way

June 4, 2009

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, DMCC's executive chairman
Investors in the Middle East can now buy a gold exchange-traded commodity that complies with Islamic law. Writer Mike Imeson

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