The growth that has characterised the rise of the Islamic finance industry has thus far evaded the asset management segment of the market, with a dearth of institutions focused on the creation of sharia-compliant investment products. John A Sandwick of Islamic Wealth & Asset Management assesses the situation.
The Banker's annual Top Islamic Financial Institutions ranking shows that growth has dropped into single digits for the first time since the ranking began. This, combined with the restructuring of sharia-compliant operations at major players such as HSBC, shows an industry that is entering a new phase of maturity; a phase that is, however, still rich with opportunity.
A new generation of sovereign wealth funds – from resource-rich economies in Africa and Latin America – has emerged over the past few years. While these new funds are still relatively small, their impact could be sizable if they enable their source countries to secure stable economic growth and mitigate future risks associated with the booms and busts of the commodity cycle.
The renminbi's slow move towards becoming a global currency has gathered momentum in the past 12 months, and with China's new premier signalling his intention to smoothen this process even further, the currency appears destined to achieve reserve status in the not-too-distant future.
With South Korea's underdeveloped capital markets struggling under the growing weight of the country's rapidly expanding conglomerates, the pressure is on for the sector to evolve and mature – with the government, regulators and banks all taking steps to achieve this goal. But will new regulations and improved infrastructure be enough to transform the industry?
Many of South Korea's largest financial institutions are having to reconsider their investment banking strategies in the wake of changed capital markets regulation, increasing competition and narrowing profits, with many turning to the international market.
The Chinese bond market must achieve greater diversity – of issuers and investors – if it is to facilitate the successful internationalisation of the renminbi, which requires the government to relax its rules on foreign participants, something it is already starting to do.
As Dubai has grown, so has its role in the global transaction services industry, with the emirate now serving as the nerve centre of all trade taking place across the Middle East and north Africa. And as Dubai sets out its stall to become the next renminbi hub, this role only looks set to grow.
A single platform for securities settlement in Europe and the continued growth of e-commerce will soon out-date the market infrastructures as they exist. Frances Faulds looks at how market infrastructures are reinventing themselves and redesigning their services to remain relevant.