As a result of government promotion, increased interest among Muslims and non-Muslims, heightened awareness of the benefits of Islamic finance and improved regulation, sharia-compliant financial products have been gaining on conventional finance. The country’s IFS sector dates back to 1969, when the government established the Pilgrims Management and Fund Board to help Malaysians pay for the...
Asia Financial Services
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Chapter | Islamic Financial Services from The Report: Malaysia 2014
Chapter | Capital Markets from The Report: Malaysia 2014
While the possibility of loose monetary policy ending in the US raised concerns in the Malaysian markets, 2013 turned out to be a strong year for new offerings and for the benchmark index. In the first six months of 2014, nine IPOs were reported by the stock exchange. In 2013, $2.56bn was raised in IPOs. That was considerably less than in 2012, when the exchange raised $7.15bn, but up from $2....
In a stress test conducted in early 2014, the central bank found that Malaysia’s banks would be able to hold up even if the system faced shocks greater than those in the 2008 crisis. After a number of years of consolidation and in an environment of tight regulation, Malaysia’s commercial banks have continued to improve. Local banks have been ordered by Bank Negara to increase their collective...
Malaysia’s natural resources and its well-educated population are some of the many credentials that keep the country in good stead, with priorities centred on preparing for the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015 and steering the policy framework toward more inclusive political representation. The economy is built around global trade, and the government is working to encourage greater private investment.
Mongolia’s insurance industry is expected to grow rapidly over the next few years as the economy expands and more firms and individuals become familiar with insurance products and the need to be covered. The market is open – a rarity in Asia – and international investors and strategic partners are taking a close look at potential acquisition targets and partners. With the state controlling the...
Chapter | Capital Markets from The Report: Mongolia 2014
For the Mongolian Stock Exchange (MSE), 2013 was a year of transition. While performance remained weak and trading was exceedingly thin, preparations were being made for a comeback. The hope is that the foundation has been set to make 2014 a year of recovery for the market. Under previous legislation custodian banking was not available; however, under a new law, international investors will not...