Analysis: Political divisions slow Islamic finance in Egypt
(Reuters) - AlexBank, one of Egypt's biggest commercial banks, says it expects to launch Islamic financial services next April. But the country's political divisions mean the regulatory environment in which the bank will operate is not clear.

Analysis - Slower takaful growth prompts strategy rethink
(Reuters) - Growth of the takaful or Islamic insurance business is slowing, industry statistics show, increasing pressure on the sector to boost efficiency, roll out new products and explore new markets.

New IFSB guidelines focus on Islamic bank risk
(Reuters) - The Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) has published new guidelines on liquidity and stress-testing, seeking to reduce the balance sheet risk of Islamic financial institutions in line with a tightening of standards in conventional banking.

Analysis: Islamic finance pressured to join accounting mainstream
(Reuters) - Rapid growth of Islamic finance is increasing pressure for the industry to enter the accounting mainstream, by seeking guidance from the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), the global body which sets the tone for book-keeping in conventional finance.

Huge mandate for planned new Islamic Bank
(Reuters) - Gulf institutions plan to spur development of the Islamic finance industry by setting up a bank that would boost liquidity in sharia-compliant markets. But the mandate of the bank is so wide that it may struggle to have an impact early on.

AAOIFI proposes Islamic finance accounting changes
(Reuters) - The Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) has proposed more detailed accounting standards for real estate while increasing disclosure for Islamic banks' investment accounts.