http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/ Asia’s only dedicated Islamic finance magazine en-US 2011 REDmoney Group Islamic Finance http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/images/header1.gif http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/ http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/article.asp?nm_id=18844 Flexible system Bank Negara Malaysia will not close the Islamic window operations of conventional banks in Malaysia, preferring industry forces to dictate the market Asia Watch 1 Mar 2011 Volume4.Issue2 http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/article.asp?nm_id=18845 Good precedent Sukuk sales are likely to pick up following the success of The Investment Dar (TID)`s debt restructuring plan, creating greater certainty in the Islamic capital markets. Global Watch 1 Mar 2011 Volume4.Issue2 http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/article.asp?nm_id=18834 As many of you will be aware I spent much of January and early February travelling to the Middle East and Canada. The remainder of February and much of March will be spent in Europe Column 1 Mar 2011 Volume4.Issue2 http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/article.asp?nm_id=18850 The three most prominent standard setting bodies within the Islamic finance industry currently are the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI), the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), and the International Islamic Financial Market (IIFM) Cover Story 1 Mar 2011 Volume4.Issue2 http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/article.asp?nm_id=18835 Tax incentives have often been regarded as a vital element to allow Islamic finance to compete on a level playing field with mainstream counterparts, as funding these instruments conventionally is often not commercially viable Feature 1 Mar 2011 Volume4.Issue2 http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/article.asp?nm_id=18836 Now that the dust has all but settled on the Sukuk restructurings of 2008 and 2009, some basic investment advice really does bear repeating: invest according to your risk appetite Feature 1 Mar 2011 Volume4.Issue2 http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/article.asp?nm_id=18837 In late 2009 Maxis Communications, one of Malaysia’s largest telecommunication companies, issued a groundbreaking US$3.3 billion Islamic initial public offering (IPO) Feature 1 Mar 2011 Volume4.Issue2 http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/article.asp?nm_id=18838 A trustee is an appointed, independent third party intermediary or caretaker who manages an entire transaction to maturity, serving as arbitrator when necessary Feature 1 Mar 2011 Volume4.Issue2 http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/article.asp?nm_id=18831 The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Thailand has completed regulations permitting the issuance of domestic and international Sukuk bonds by local financial institutions Report 1 Mar 2011 Volume4.Issue2 http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/article.asp?nm_id=18832 The Central Bank of Yemen issued two Sukuk Al Mudarabah on the 12th February, marking the first of such issuances in the country Report 1 Mar 2011 Volume4.Issue2 http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/article.asp?nm_id=18833 Early last month, the Qatar Central Bank (QCB) ruffled some feathers in the country’s banking industry when it ordered conventional banks to shut down their Islamic window operations by the end of the year Report 1 Mar 2011 Volume4.Issue2 http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/article.asp?nm_id=18849 Dubai Islamic Bank has appointed Ahmed Fathy Al-Gebali as its new chief financial officer. He previously held a similar position at Kuwait-based Boubyan Bank On the move 1 Mar 2011 Volume4.Issue2 http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/article.asp?nm_id=18846 The momentum of the funds industry continues in the second month of the year with numerous fund launches, predominantly in the Middle East - an indication that economic conditions are improving Funds News 1 Mar 2011 Volume4.Issue2 http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/article.asp?nm_id=18848 Attractive Islamic insuranceMitsui Sumitomo Insurance, a unit of Japan`s property-casualty insurance firm MS&AD, is eyeing a 35% stake in Malaysian Takaful operator Hong Leong Tokio Marine Takaful (HLTMT) Takaful and Re-takaful 1 Mar 2011 Volume4.Issue2 http://www.islamicfinanceasia.com/article.asp?nm_id=# BisB`s rating slipsMoody`s Investors Service (Moody`s) has downgraded Bahrain Islamic Bank`s (BisB) standalone bank financial credit strength rating (BFSR) to `D` from `D+`, which maps to a Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) of `Ba2` instead of the previous `Ba1` Rating 1 Mar 2011 Volume4.Issue2