INCEIF Knowledge Repository (INCEIF University)
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Occupational risk & the urgency for frontliner protection
No full textThe Department of Labour in the US recently released their COVID-19 Occupational Risk Score. The statistics are based on their Purchasing Power Parity, the homogeneity of the job description and the risk of exposure to COVID-19. The figure above may be used to depict a more generic occupational risk correlated with salary grades, that are experienced internationally, including Malaysia. The Occupational Risk Score can be divided into four quadrants: i. high income-low risk, ii. high income-high risk, iii. low income-high risk, and iv. low income-low risk. Those with the highest exposure to infection include what is now termed as the 'frontliners'. These include doctors, nurses, and other medical officers and officials, police & army, and volunteers (RELA) entrusted to enforce the movement control orders (MCO). Immigration and other enforcement officers stationed at entry and exit points are also amongst those facing the highest levels of occupational risk
Too small to succeed versus too big to fail: how much does size matter in banking?
No full textEven though large banks could imply large risks and heightened vulnerability for a country's macroeconomy, the presence of many small banks with similar behavior such as Islamic banks could also cause systemic risks. This article makes an initial attempt to investigate the impact of bank size on banking performance. Our study spans 12 emerging countries with dual banking systems and applies two-step dynamic system GMM estimator. The results show that size really does matter in the banking industry, and its impact on performance tends to be non-linear with a trade-off between profitability and efficiency. Comparing conventional with Islamic banks, we find that bank size has almost the same impact on the performance of both types of banks
An exploratory study on the possibility of replacing tawarruq based Islamic banking products using other alternatives
No full textTawarruq which is also known as commodity murabahah in Islamic banking is widely practiced in Malaysia to structure different types of Islamic banking products. The widespread use of tawarruq has made Islamic banks to be re-named as "tawarruq banks" and some even call tawarruq as the "magic lamp" of the industry. Shariah scholars have criticised this frequent usage of tawarruq in Islamic banking industry of Malaysia, while the practitioners have replied by saying that if tawarruq is a shariah approved concept, then what is wrong with the usage of it? However, from the shariah perspective, the issue here is not about the shariah compliance of tawarruq transactions per se. It is about the shariah limitations imposed by the scholars on the use of it. This simply means that there is a reservation made by shariah scholars in allowing the usage of tawarruq contract in Islamic finance as tawarruq is a contract allowed to be used when one has to choose between a conventional loan and tawarruq. The purpose of this research is thus to show the alternative Islamic commercial contracts that could be used to structure Islamic banking products that have been structured in the market using tawarruq. It is anticipated that the outcome of this research will assist Islamic banking industry to understand why and how they can move away from tawarruq
Merton's equation and the quantum oscillator: pricing risky corporate coupon bonds
No full textMerton has proposed a model of the contingent claims on a firm as an option on the firms value, and the model is based on a generalization of the Black-Scholes stochastic equation. Merton's model can be used to price any contingent claim on the firm. A risk-sharing oscillator model for the pricing of corporate coupon bonds is proposed that leads to stochastic coupons, with the dynamics of the contingent claims being determined by the quantum oscillator. The oscillator model allows for the exact derivation of many results using quantum mathematics. The price of the risk-sharing coupon bonds and the stochastic coupons is derived exactly using the Feynman path integral
COVID-19 and Aramco: a brief analysis
No full textThe year 2020 is unparalleled in historical oil prices, crashing in April to -US18 in a matter of hours. The increasing stockpiles and inadequate storage facilities forced oil producers to pay buyers to take barrels that were not storable. Oil producers faced a perfect storm of strategic price cutting stemming from rivalry between oil giants from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Russia, and a global virus that forced lockdowns to contain the pandemic. Aramco, the Kingdom's 'national' oil company and the world's largest oil producer until recently, had to manage the severe oil price shock with policy changes that caused spillover effects on the nation. Historically, oil has been a crucial commodity in almost every industry since the 1900s. The global move towards green, sustainable and renewable resources in addressing climate change was anticipated to spell the end of the 'black gold' era. But oil companies have managed to be ranked as sustainable due to a broader definition that covers the adherence to environmental guidelines, governance and social impact. There have been few substitutes to rival its versatility and cost. Going electric has not proven to be a worthy rival to oil in the short-term. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), crude oil demand is expected to plateau by 2030, with 35% of vehicles going electric in 2040. It seems black gold has some time before it loses its lustre
Exploring new trends of waqf in the Islamic capital market
No full textThe financial re-engineering of old concepts is a new trend in the field of Islamic finance. It has been termed as 'New Horizon 2.0' by Shinsuke (2014) - an approach which aims to revitalize original instruments once practiced in medieval Islam to harness the potential of Islamic finance to better meet the needs of communities. It is also in line with the continuous innovative efforts of the industry to apply existing concepts, contracts, and instruments that are Shari'ah-compliant in the modern context to resolve contemporary socio-economic issues. In light of this background, this chapter examines how the age-old philanthropic concept of waqf has been integrated in the Islamic finance industry to revive its applications in contemporary societies. The chapter focuses on the inter-links between waqf and the Islamic capital market (ICM). Accordingly, it examines the new trends of waqf that have emerged in the ICM
Short-term Shariah-compliant Islamic liquidity management instruments to sustain Islamic banking: the case of Maldives
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to describe the structure of the Islamic treasury bills issued by the Central Bank of Maldives, Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) for the benefit of those jurisdictions that aspire to introduce short term Islamic liquidity management instruments. This is exploratory research where the experience of the author in structuring the Islamic liquidity management instruments discussed in the paper. It is evident from the discussions of this paper that innovation is the key to structure Shari'ah compliant short term liquidity management instruments. The example of Maldives has proved that there is a need to amend the laws of the country to facilitate Central banks to deal with Shariah-compliant instruments
House financing: contracts used by Islamic banks for finished properties in Malaysia
No full textThe purpose of this paper is to find out the existing practices of the Islamic banks in providing financing to the customers who have a requirement to purchase a finished property and to examine the existing products used by the Islamic banks in this regard by providing an insight into the modus operandi of these products. In doing this, attempt is made to find out the most famous product offered by the Islamic banks in this regard and to find out whether in reality, Malaysian Islamic banking industry has moved away from Bai Bithaman Ajil (BBA) or not. This is a qualitative research, largely library-based, and it will consist of secondary sources such as books, journals, articles and other sources related to the Islamic house financing in Malaysia for finished properties. Recent information of the practises of the banks in this regard is obtained from the official websites of the banks
Application of statutes of limitations to Islamic banking: the case of Malaysia
No full textLimitations of action designate extent of time after an event, as set by statutes of limitations, within which legal action can be initiated by a party to a transaction. No event is actionable outside the designated time as same is rendered statute-barred. This study aims to provide an insight into application and significance of Limitations Act 1950 and Limitation Ordinance 1952 to Islamic banking matters in Malaysia as well as Shariah viewpoint on the issue of limitation of action. In conducting the study, a qualitative research methodology is employed where reported Islamic banking cases from 1983 to 2018 in Malaysia were reviewed and analysed to ascertain the application of those statutes of limitations to Islamic banking. Likewise, relevant provisions of the statutes as invoked in the cases were examined to determine possible legislative conflicts between the provisions and the rule of Islamic law in governing the right and limitation of action in Islamic banking cases under the law. The reviewed cases show the extent to which statutes of limitations were invoked in Malaysian courts in determining validity of Islamic banking matters. The limitation provisions so referred to are largely sections 6(1)(a) and 21(1) Limitations Act 1953 and section 19 Limitation Ordinance 1953, which do not conflict with Shariah viewpoint on the matter. This study will prove invaluable to financial institutions and their customers alike in promoting knowledge and creating awareness over actionable event in the course of their transactions
Regulating fintech businesses: the Malaysian experience
No full textThe Malaysian finance industry is governed by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and Securities Commission Malaysia (SC). BNM governs the banking and insurance industries and the SC regulates and develops its capital market. Both authorities have issued regulations to cater for the proliferation of fintech businesses. For example, BNM issued regulations on digital currency exchanges, electronic-know your customer requirements for fintech companies facilitating remittances, and a regulatory sandbox framework for fintech businesses. Similarly, the SC issued a digital investment management framework, another to facilitate equity crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending, and digital asset exchanges, and the instrumental digital currency and digital token order. All were issued to encourage innovation in the industry, manage disruption, mitigate risks, and ensure consumer protection. This chapter will explain the steps taken by Malaysia's financial regulatory authorities in dealing with fintech-based companies, critically review the regulations, and recommend some ways forward