With all the controversy surrounding hedge funds and short selling, could Islamic finance provide a more responsible approach to the philosophy and management of hedge funds? One feature that would distinguish a hedge fund built upon Islamic principles is that short selling would not be allowed because it amounts to selling an asset that isn’t owned.
With the announcement of […]
Despite its problems Pakistan is an emerging economy that has long-term potential. Barclays is making a significant investment in the country. It is opening three branches, one in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, followed by 7 more and 10 sales centres by the end of 2008. The decision by Barclays to invest at this time is […]
Strategy + Business, a magazine published by the global consulting firm Booz & Company has published an article on the growth of Islamic finance. Over the last few years we have seen a great deal of innovation to develop Islamic financial products, particularly in the area of commercial finance. Investors now have greater choice with […]
While economies around the world are experiencing the credit crunch and preparing for what many perceive to be a gloomy economic overlook over the next couple of years, the Russian economy is proving to be quite resilient and business continues to grow strongly. A number of articles by the Independent highlight prospects in Russia, one […]
The phenomenon of the ethical economy takes on a whole new dimension with the launch in January of a fund that caters for Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains. The Dow Jones Indexes in partnership with UK-based consultants Dharma Investments have developed indices that are built upon the concept of Dharma, an escoteric concept in Indian philosophy that is […]
The Islamic finance industry is worth $800 billion globally and is growing by 10 to 15 per cent every year according to the Financial Times. The industry began just over 30 years ago and has grown rapidly to the extent that Prime Minister Gordon Brown wants to make London the capital of Islamic finance. Those […]
Chineese companies are showing a way forward for companies from the developing world. In a report by McKinsey & Company it highlights how Chineese companies are going global:
Chinese companies are on the threshold of becoming truly global. A few—fewer than might be suspected from recent headlines—have already passed through the door by moving to acquire […]
The creative economy is one of the fastest growing industries. NESTA, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts recently organised a one day summit with leading creative industry experts to discuss policies for the creative economy in the 21st century.
Despite the recommendations, we believe the government does not go far enough. We believe […]
MIT Technology Review has published its list of 10 emerging technologies that its editors believe will impact upon the world over the coming years. The list highlights possible business opportunities for new startups, and areas that tech companies need to think about exploring to maintain and build their market share.
We are particularly excited by the […]
The World Economic Forum annual meeting of 2008 has largely been dominated by discussion of the economic challenges facing the world. However beyond the discussions surrounding the global economic situation, the WEF gives us an insight into trends shaping businesses in the era of globalisation. Any SME that is looking to its future growth can learn much from the […]
