This practical title provides a comprehensive overview of the Islamic capital markets, tracking their development from the first sukuks to the current outlook after the global economic crisis and the recent Shariah rulings of the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) in relation to sukuk

This volume, edited by Said El-Naggar, is the fifth in a series of seminars dealing with economic issues of particular importance to the Arab countries. Held in Manama, Bahrain, in February 1993, it covered topics pertaining to economic development of the Arab countries in the nineties. The seven papers that were presented comprised economic reform in the Arab countries, including particularly structural issues; investment policies and capital flows; inter-Arab labor movements; environment and development; development of human resources; and European economic integration. An overview of the topics is presented by the seminar moderator, Said El-Naggar.

As an emerging global phenomenon, Islamic economics and the financial system has expanded exponentially in recent decades. Many components of the industry are still unknown, but hopefully, the lack of awareness will soon be stilled. The Handbook of Research on Theory and Practice of Global Islamic Finance provides emerging research on the latest global Islamic economic practices. The content within this publication examines risk management, economic justice, and stock market analysis. It is designed for financiers, banking professionals, economists, policymakers, researchers, academicians, and students interested in ideas centered on the development and practice of Islamic finance.

First published in 1988, Stock Markets of the Arab World provides a sound description and analysis of the stock market situation in Arab countries and an evaluation of previous attempts at the integration of capital markets. Foreign interest in the oil producing Arab countries has grown due to the accumulation of international reserves. Oil producers are looking for an alternative to their near-term investments in United States Securities through a diversification of their economies. This book argues that these countries could profitably invest these reserves through an integration of their securities markets. It also says that prospects of increased linkages among Arab domestic markets do exist. This is an interesting read for scholars and researchers of Middle East studies, Arab economy and economics in general.

An original and empirically grounded analysis of the Gulf monarchies and their role in shaping the political economy of the Middle East.

Recent developments at both the international and national levels - including the globalization of financial markets and the wave of liberalization, deregulation, and privatization- have pushed the issue of financial markets to the forefront of the development agenda. This book, edited by Said El-Naggar, comprises the proceedings of a seminar held in Abu Dhabi in January 1994. It provides a comprehensive analysis of various aspects of capital markets in general and particularly in the Arab countries.

Back in the early 1990s, economists and policy makers had high expectations about the prospects for domestic capital market development in emerging economies, particularly in Latin America. Unfortunately, they are now faced with disheartening results. Stock and bond markets remain illiquid and segmented. Debt is concentrated at the short end of the maturity spectrum and denominated in foreign currency, exposing countries to maturity and currency risk. Capital markets in Latin America look particularly underdeveloped when considering the many efforts undertaken to improve the macroeconomic environment and to reform the institutions believed to foster capital market development. The disappointing performance has made conventional policy recommendations questionable, at best. 'Emerging Capital Markets and Globalization' analyzes where we stand and where we are heading on capital market development. First, it takes stock of the state and evolution of Latin American capital markets and related reforms over time and relative to other countries. Second, it analyzes the factors related to the development of capital markets, with particular interest on measuring the impact of reforms. And third, in light of this analysis, it discusses the prospects for capital market development in Latin America and emerging economies and the implications for the reform agenda.

This first book of its kind discusses in particular the role of investor protection as regards disclosure when issuers are offering securities to the public, with full descriptions of the securities markets and stock exchanges in seventeen Arab jurisdictions. In two interrelated parts it examines both the regional macroeconomic matrix and a detailed case study (that of Jordan) in order to analyse the development and characteristics of an Arab regulatory model. Among the important issues and topics arising in the course of the analysis are the following: relevance of international regulatory standards to Arab securities markets; mandatory versus voluntary securities disclosure; the fundamentals of the Islamic financial system, role of riba and gharar, nature and impact of Shari’a’s unquantifiable juridical risks on the modus operandi of Arab securities markets; macroeconomic adjustment policies and structural adjustment programmes in several Arab countries; recent economic and Arab capital markets impact in the wake of the ‘Arab Spring’; extent of different countries’ reliance on Shari’a as a constitutional source; constitutional challenges to the imposition of interest; the need for the positive law to compel securities disclosure under Shari’a; shareholders’ remedies when suing for fraud or negligent misstatements; liability for misleading or inaccurate disclosure (under the general law of the UK and a selected Arab jurisdiction); prospectus liability under the statutory regime of the UK and an Arab regulatory regime; bars to rescission of contract: Comparative UK and Shari'a aspects; and Arab, UK regulatory agencies' enforcement, prosecutorial, administrative and civil remedies. The author closely examines various instruments deployed for conveying securities disclosure and dissemination of information, and looks extensively at relevant rulings as enunciated by an Arab court of cassation. He then constructs a model of an effective securities disclosure regime in order to provide better investor protection for shareholders under Shari’a. 'Among the strengths of Dr Lu’ayy Minwer Al-Rimawi’s book is the fact that at all times he adopts a comparative approach, not only as between different Arab systems, but also with an appreciation of the legal position in the UK and the European Union and elsewhere’ [The Hon. Mr Justice Sir William Blair Q.C., High Court Judge in the UK and Chairman of the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Tribunal]. As the first in-depth discussion of the regulation of Arab capital markets in English, with an eye to international standards and the policy issues involved – and with attention focused on the central question of how the law can properly protect investors – this book will commend itself to all those with an interest in securities markets in the Arab world.

The book aims to unravel the potentials of Middle East financial markets, which are spread over a large and wealthy part of the world. These markets are gradually being opened for international investors seeking diversification and rewarding risk adjusted returns. However, opening up to international investors is a necessary but not a sufficient condition to attract institutional money needed to provide depth and professionalism to these markets. Without a cultural shift towards more transparency, better regulations and governance, and the availability of custody, clearance and equity research, up to international best practice, not much institutional money will be forthcoming to the region. Funding sources in the Middle East and North Africa Region are still predominantly channeled through the banking system, with equity and fixed income markets playing a marginal role. While the worlds financial markets show on average a balanced structure of bank assets, stock market capitalization and debt securities, the capital mix in the region is heavily skewed towards bank assets with a share of 58.8%, equities around 34% and debt securities (bonds and Sukuk) 7.2%. Stock markets of the UAE and Qatar have recently been upgraded to emerging market status, which together with Egypt are the only three Arab countries that have selected listed companies featuring in the Morgan Stanley Capital Index for Emerging Markets (MSCI EM). Saudi Arabia has opened its stock market to direct investment by foreign financial institutions in the second half of 2015. The opening of the Saudi stock market is a major positive development for the regions capital markets. The path ahead for MENA finance has become now clearer. The relative weight of commercial banks in the financial system will diminish gradually, and a wider range of financial services will be provided by deeper and increasingly more sophisticated debt and equity capital markets, in line with worldwide trends. Sharia compliant products, such as Sukuk, are expected to continue to grow at double-digit rate to meet the strong demand generated regionally and internationally.

First Published in 1997. Economic adjustment programs that combine macroeconomic stability and structural reforms are being implemented in several Arab countries. Policy-makers also are devoting more attention to improving the operation of domestic capital markets. To invest in this region now would be a far-sighted move by entering at a stage when the process is still under way. This book is one of very few readily available sources of reference on the region's stock and bond markets, presented in a concise and accessible form. It provides investors, policy-makers, analysts, bankers and other market participants with comprehensive information covering the top 10 Arab stock markets of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia. For each market, a historical background is given together with structure, listing and trading procedures, performance trends, financial indicators, sectoral analysis and underlying strengths and weaknesses.