Shariah-compliant equities lag as investors dive back into financials

The S&P Global BMI Shariah Index returned 15.46% over the 3 months to September 30, 2009, as investors demonstrated renewed risk appetite for equities amid signs the global economy may be stabilising and bid financial stocks higher. The non-Shariah S&P Global BMI Index, which has a higher weighting towards financials, rose 18.67% over the same period.

In the Gulf, returns from the S&P GCC Composite Shariah Index, comprised of 165 Shariah-compliant equities listed in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, slowed by more than half to 11.55% from 27.65% in the second quarter. The index marginally underperformed the S&P GCC Composite Index, which returned 12.82% over the third quarter.

Alka Banerjee, Vice President, Standard & Poor's Index Services said:

"Islamic banks and other financial institutions operating according to Shariah principles are continuing to underpin the performance of the S&P GCC Composite Shariah Index. However, with limited exposure to financials outside of the Gulf, Shariah investors are now missing out on some of the upside as the global economy recovers."

While volatility is likely to remain a feature of global markets for some time, Ms Banerjee said Shariah indicies and Islamic investing remains a growth story, facilitating the launch of several new Islamic funds, Exchange Traded Funds and a new breed of Shariah-compliant structured products in the MENA region, London and New York during the third quarter.

S&P's Global Benchmark Shariah Index Series covers 52 developed and emerging markets as well as ten GICS (Global Industry Classification Standard) sectors. It is part of S&P's family of Shariah-compliant indices, designed to offer a comprehensive set of Islamic investment solutions for both benchmarking and investing activity. For a complete breakdown of S&P Shariah index performance by country and sector, please contact your local media representative listed below.

S&P's Shariah Indices are screened by Ratings Intelligence Partners, an independent Kuwait-based consulting company, which collaborates with the S&P Index Committee to apply a set of independent and objective guidelines for the day-to-day maintenance of each Shariah index. Standard & Poor's Shariah Indices undergo sector and accounting-based screens that exclude businesses that offer products and services which are considered unacceptable or non-compliant according to Shariah-law.