IslamicFinance.de

Moody’s Investor Services expects strong growth in the Islamic finance sector, reflecting the increasing demand for Shari’ah-compliant financial instruments. The rating agency stated that familiarity as well as understanding of the instrument is increasing and there are no barriers to investors, both Islamic and conventional to investing in these issuances. The growth in the Islamic finance sector is expected to translate into stronger prospects for green Sukuk issuance by sovereigns and financial institutions. The green Sukuk market will benefit from the buoyant demand as institutional investors seek to integrate sustainability into their asset allocation and risk management practises.

Malaysia will remain the market leader in global sukuk issuance despite recent delays and cancellations of mega projects. CIMB Islamic Bank CEO Rafe Haneef said the delays of some mega projects would have some impact sukuk deals, but it is still business as usual for Malaysia. Last year, Malaysia had issuances of over US$50 billion. According to Moody’s Investor Services, Malaysia continues to remain the world’s largest sukuk with an estimated 44% of total sovereign sukuk outstanding in 2017. Issuance grew 17% in 2017 to some US$100 billion. CIMB Investment Bank topped Bloomberg’s Underwriter League Table for ringgit bonds for 12 years running. Going forward, Rafe expects issuances will come from both the infrastructure and corporate space.

According to Moody’s Investor Services, there is stable flow of sovereign sukuk issuance this year, which is set to touch US$28 billion (US$1 = RM4.15) in Southeast Asia. Among the Southeast Asia countries, Malaysia and Indonesia continue to regularly issue long-term sovereign sukuk while Gulf countries favour conventional debt structure to finance their deficit. Moody’s Vice President Gabriel Torres said the governments of Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Sharjah returned to the sovereign sukuk market in 2016, but issuance volumes are primarily supported by more regular issuers, such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey. Sub-Saharan African sovereign sukuk issuance is likely to remain active as governments set up regulatory frameworks for a retail Islamic banking sector and test market appetite.