UK - Islamic property deals buck the trend in UK investment gloom

With stock markets the world over recording huge losses over the last week and the volatility in the markets set to continue due to the euro zone sovereign debt crisis, concerns over the down grading of the US credit rating and the weak US and EU growth figures, investors are pondering which asset class to seek refuge in. Do they place safe by moving their funds into cash or commodities such as gold, or do they stay put in bonds and equities, or go for investments in “bricks and mortar” property investments? (source)

UK - Britain gets boost from TheCityUK

The Islamic finance sector in the UK has received a major structural boost following the integration last week of the UK Islamic Finance Secretariat (UKIFS) into TheCityUK, the independent body promoting UK-wide financial and related professional services. UKIFS, which was established in March 2010, is the leading cross-sectoral body assisting with the promotion and development of Islamic Finance, both domestically and to represent the UK industry internationally. (source)

UK - FRANCE - LUXEMBOURG - Fragile sukuk market clamors for sovereign issuances

The talk is big, but are potential sukuk originators walking the walk? Depending on who you speak to, the picture is mixed, marked on the other hand by the "irrational" exuberance and ambition of potential issuers, many of whom do not get near to an offering, and on the other hand those who are skeptical and indifferent based on an erroneous belief that sukuk origination is always more expensive than conventional bonds and is further complicated by the Shariah compliance requirement.

The real potential probably lies in between where issuers genuinely see sukuk as an attractive and competitive alternative way of raising funds and therefore a tool to diversify sources of funding. They would however go to the market only when the timing and the pricing is right. Such an issuance in question is the proposed issuance which is expected to be closed this week. (full story - arab news)

LUXEMBOURG - EVENTS - IFSB Summit Luxembourg - World Bank declares Islamic finance a priority area

" The presence of Sri Muliani Indrawati, managing director of the World Bank Group, underlined the importance the global multilateral development bank views the Islamic finance industry."

The Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), the prudential and supervisory standard-setting organization for the global Islamic financial industry, embarked on a new phase of its development which may lead to a review of its mandate to facilitate a wider reach including those countries and organizations that are not currently members of the board. (full story)

LUXEMBOURG - No debut sovereign sukuk out of Luxembourg for the moment

Perhaps it is not surprising that Luxembourg has put a dampener on any speculation that it may go to the international market to raise funds through a debut Sukuk issuance. Yves Mersch, governor of the Banque Centrale de Luxembourg, speaking to reporters at the 8th Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) Summit on May 12-13 which was held in the Duchy and in Europe for the first time and hosted by the central bank, confirmed that the Luxembourg government is in no hurry to issue a sukuk because there are currently no compelling reasons for doing so. (full story)

RUSSIA - ICD offers Islamic finance study tours to Russian, CIS officials

The intellectual argument for and the demystification of Islamic finance has gained much ground in Russia and the CIS countries over the last two years, but the political decision makers and bureaucracy, especially the banking regulatory authorities, still need to be convinced about the role an alternative Islamic system of financial management can play, especially in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. As such, Islamic finance in the region is at best a work in progress but the task ahead remains huge. (full story)

EUROPE - LUXEMBOURG - UCITS IV: The trend for the future

By MUSHTAK PARKER | ARAB NEWS

Published: Feb 6, 2011 23:11 >Updated Feb 6, 2011 23:11 

Asset and fund managers have a new option in choosing a mutual or equity fund structure in UCITS IV (Undertakings for Collective Investments in Transferable Securities) which according to prominent finance industry lawyers is ideally suited for a new generation of Shariah-compliant unit trusts, mutual funds and equity funds and products. (source )