CAPITAL MARKETS - Kuveyt Türk Participation Bank B Type SilverPlus ETF is applied to be listed on İMKB

www.ise.org - Bizim Securities applied for public offering and listing of “Kuveyt Türk Participation Bank B Type SilverPlus ETF", to be issued by Kuveyt Türk, on March 23, 2012. (source)

FINANCIAL MARKETS - Istanbul bourse launches participation index

In an effort to tap the growing area of Islamic banking, the Istanbul Stock Exchange launches a participation index in a ceremony. The index, comprised of 30 companies, includes giants such as Türk Telekom, BİM, Enka İnşaat, Ford Otosan and Petkim. Hüseyin Erkan, chairman of the bourse, says the exchange may also establish separate indexes for groups such as holding companies.

Top executives of Islamic lenders and the Istanbul Stock Exchange sign the protocol on the creation of a participation index at the Istanbul Stock Exchange on Thursday.

The Istanbul Stock Exchange, or ISE, launched a participation index, made up of equities that adhere to the principles of Islamic lending, at a ceremony Thursday.

The main reason for the creation of the participation index is to offer a special Islamic and domestic index “suited to the customer profile of participation banks,” according to exchange officials who spoke at the ceremony.

Pointing to the rapid and steady growth of Islamic banking in Turkey since 2004, Fahrettin Yahşi, chairman of Turkey’s Participation Banks Association, or TKBB, said the participation index will be an important service to provide standardization in the sector. Yahşi is also the general manager of Albaraka Türk, majority-owned by the Albaraka Banking Group.

FINANCIAL MARKETS - KATLM "Participation Index" for the IMKB/ISE Istanbul Stock Exchange

 As from Jan 6, 2011 a new "Participation  Index" (KATLM) will be listed on the IMKB/ISE Istanbul Stock Exchange, sponsored by the 4 Turkish Participation Banks (Albaraka Turk, Bank Asya, Kuveyt Turk and Turkiye Finans) and advised by BMD Bizim Menkul Degerler.

There is an industry screening and financial screening (max 30 % interest bearing debt - max 30 % cash and interest bearing receivables - max 5 % non permissible income model) that is further narrowed down to the 30 biggest companies listed (details HERE).

Unfortunately, the index apparently only targets the interests of Turkish investors, since the website uniquely caters for a Turkish speaking audience.

To give you an idea of the initial industry spread, see hereunder:

FINANCIAL MARKETS - Muslim Nations Plan Stock Index Next Year to Spur Trade: Islamic Finance - Turkey to coordinate

Huseyin Erkan, chairman and chief executive officer of Istanbul Stock Exchange. Photographer: Jamie Rector/Bloomberg

GENERAL - FINANCE - Referendum victory pushes bourse to new records

After a recess of four and half days due to Eid-al-Fitr, the Turkish markets resumed with the excitement of a clear victory for “yes” votes in the latest referendum on a set of amendments meant to democratically redesign the Constitution.