Middle East Bonds

Goldman Sachs’ sukuk has provided a useful lesson for other conventional borrowers looking at the asset class. Opinions are divided on the merits of non-Islamic borrowers testing the market, but bankers both close to and away from the deal agree that a wider distribution would be better for future debuts.

Raising one’s game from regional bank to global is a risky strategy at the best of times, so for National Bank of Abu Dhabi to attempt the move when other firms are retrenching is is bound to draw some scepticism.

Recent Middle East financial bond issues have had mixed fortunes in the secondary market, but Goldman Sachs’s debut sukuk has notably underperformed since its mid-September pricing – with some investors and bankers away from the deal suggesting that this resulted both from exaggerated orders and from a persistent uneasiness the market has with borrowers it considers "un-Islamic”.

Recent Middle East financial bond issues have had mixed fortunes in the secondary market, but Goldman Sachs’s debut sukuk has notably underperformed since its mid-September pricing – with some investors and bankers away from the deal suggesting that this resulted both from exaggerated orders and from a persistent uneasiness the market has with borrowers it considers un-Islamic”.

Raising one’s game from regional bank to global is a risky strategy at the best of times, so for National Bank of Abu Dhabi to attempt the move when other firms are retrenching and streamlining their businesses is bound to draw some scepticism.

Raising one’s game from regional bank to global is a risky strategy at the best of times, so for National Bank of Abu Dhabi to attempt the move when other firms are retrenching and streamlining their businesses is bound to draw some scepticism.

Luxembourg’s debut in the sukuk market last week was a great advert for the asset class and rounded off a run of ground-breaking deals from new borrowers. But despite bankers reporting interest from other European sovereigns in the aftermath – and suggestions the Grand Duchy itself will return next year – it is unlikely that its western neighbours will follow soon.

Luxembourg’s debut in the sukuk market last week was a great advert for the asset class and rounded off a run of ground-breaking deals from new borrowers. But despite bankers reporting interest from other European sovereigns in the aftermath – and suggestions the Grand Duchy itself will return next year – it is unlikely that its western neighbours will follow soon.

Any lull in the international sukuk market after September’s record monthly issuance is set to be brief, say bankers, with the Republic of Turkey looking likely to be at the front of the next flurry of deals.

National Bank of Abu Dhabi will underscore its commitment to its wholesale banking business by splitting the UK part of its operations from its private banking arm and moving as many as 100 staff to Canary Wharf.

The National Bank of Oman launched its debut offering on Tuesday morning. Market conditions have been less than ideal for the issuer, but Oman’s bond is one of few which has performed well in secondary.

National Bank of Oman launched its debut bond on Tuesday morning in less than ideal market conditions but the $500m deal was one of the few EM offerings which performed well in secondary this week.