The steady growth of sharia-compliant assets suggests banks believe in the future of the sector, but the dismantling of the largest cross-border Islamic window raises questions about whether global banking groups can make a success of the business.
Asia-Pacific
Malaysia sets Islamic finance example
November 7, 2012Malaysia leads the world in providing a sharia-compliant environment for savings. CIMB Islamic's Badlisyah Abdul Ghani charts the rise of Islamic finance since its founding in the country 50 years ago.
Asean over 20 years: Indonesia's triumph over adversity
November 1, 2012Indonesia's banks suffered heavy setbacks during the 1998 Asian financial crisis, but in the 20 years since, the country's recovery has seen its banking sector outperform the rest of the Association of South-east Asian Nations region.
RQFII puts Chinese asset managers on international stage
November 1, 2012Foreign investors have previously accessed Chinese capital markets through the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor scheme, and since December last year the Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor scheme – which uses offshore renminbi funds – has broadened foreign investment in China. The development of these products is now gaining momentum, and the scheme has given a first-mover advantage to domestic Chinese firms, putting brands that are little known outside China on the international stage.
Asia and Latin America: a special relationship in the making?
November 1, 2012With advanced economies still languishing in the doldrums, trade between Asia and Latin America is driving global economic growth, and it appears that this blossoming relationship is mutually beneficial. However, could protectionist policies in Latin America dampen this ardour?
Cool heads needed for the world’s new superpower
October 29, 2012The world needs China to stay engaged in international economic and financial discussions.
Transaction banking welcomes a new era of connectivity
October 1, 2012New networks are being forged in transaction banking as the EU's single market nears completion, the renminbi becomes increasingly internationalised and new mobile technologies speed up and simplify transactions.
Banks wake up to intraday liquidity management challenge
October 1, 2012Market reforms are flooding the financial sector and banks are facing the challenge of managing their liquidity more efficiently. But the industry remains divided on best practice approaches to intraday liquidity management.
After Europe's withdrawal: the reshaping of Asian trade finance
October 1, 2012The effects of the European retreat from trade finance in Asia are now apparent as a number of players are stepping in and new trade patterns are taking shape.
Offshore renminbi spreads beyond Hong Kong
October 1, 2012Hong Kong is the world’s offshore centre for the renminbi, and now other international centres are joining the Chinese currency’s path to internationalisation. But as additional pools of liquidity are being created, will the new centres dilute the existing offshore liquidity and create separate puddles rather than one large pool?