The Markets May 23, 2007

S&P Expands Shariah-Compliant Indexes

Standard&Poor's has launched indexes that include the most liquid stocks in Brazil, Russia, India, and China that comply with Shariah law.
Reported by

According to a company press release, the stocks included in the S&P BRIC Shariah Index currently trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange.

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S&P began offering Shariah-compliant indexes in April (See S&P Unveils Shariah-Compliant Indexes). To be eligible for inclusion in the S&P BRIC Shariah Index, companies must first be constituents of the S&P/IFCI Index for Brazil, Russia, India and China. According to the news release, constituents are then screened for Shariah compliance based upon proprietary sectoral and financial ratios.

All S&P Shariah indexes are screened by Ratings Intelligence Partners, a Kuwait-based consulting company specializing in the Islamic investment market. The indexes exclude businesses that offer products and services which are considered unacceptable or non-compliant according to Shariah-law, such as advertising and media (newspapers are allowed, sub-industries are analyzed individually), alcohol, financials, gambling, pork, pornography, tobacco, and the trading of gold and silver as cash on a deferred basis.

For more information on the S&P Shariah Indices visit www.globalindices.standardandpoors.com.

The Markets May 23, 2007

S&P Unveils Shariah-Compliant Indexes

Standard&Poor's has launched fully investable indexes for Muslim investors that include only stocks that comply with Shariah law.
Reported by
According to a press release, the S&P GCC Shariah Series for Muslim investors is designed to capture the largest and most liquid stocks across the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC).

“A lack of globally accepted benchmarks and other tailored investment tools is constraining the development of Shariah-related equity investing around the world,” said Alka Banerjee, vice president of S&P’s Index Services. “Together, these new S&P Shariah indices will provide Islamic investors and asset managers with a rigorous and consistent set of benchmarks and offer product providers the opportunity to develop structured products tailored to the Islamic market, while drawing on the liquidity and investability of S&P indices.”

The new indexes include the
  • S&P Saudi Shariah,
  • S&P Bahrain Shariah,
  • S&P Kuwait, Shariah,
  • S&P Oman Shariah,
  • S&P Qatar Shariah,
  • S&P United Arab Emirates Shariah,
  • S&P GCC Investable Shariah; and
  • S&P GCC Composite Shariah Index.

According to the press release, the indexes have been screened by Kuwait-based Ratings Intelligence Partners.

For more information on the S&P Shariah Indexes visit: www.globalindices.standardandpoors.com.

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