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The purpose of this paper is to quantify the extent to which the Malaysia-based equity investors can benefit from diversifying their portfolio into the conventional and Islamic Southeast Asian region and the world’s top ten largest equity indices (China, Japan, Hong Kong, India, the UK, the USA, Canada, France, Germany and Switzerland).

The multivariate GARCH-dynamic conditional correlation is deployed to estimate the time-varying linkages of the selected conventional and Islamic Asian and international stock index returns with the Malaysian stock index returns, covering approximately eight years daily starting from 29 June 2007 to 30 June 2016.

In general, in terms of volatility, the results indicate that both Asian and international Islamic stock indices are more or less volatile than its conventional counterparts. From the correlation analysis, we can see that both the conventional and Islamic MSCI indices of Japan provide more diversification benefits compared to Southeast Asian region, China, Hong Kong and India. Meanwhile, in terms of international portfolio diversification, the results tend to suggest that both the conventional and Islamic MSCI indices of the USA provide more diversification benefits compared to the UK, Canada, France, Germany and Switzerland.

The findings of this paper may have several significant implications for the Malaysia-based equity investors and fund managers who seek for the understanding of return correlations between the Malaysian stock index and the world’s largest stock market indices in order to gain higher risk-adjusted returns through portfolio diversification. With regard to policy implications, the findings on market shocks and the extent of the interdependence of the Malaysian market with cross-border markets may provide some useful insights in formulating effective macroeconomic stabilization policies in the efforts of preventing contagion effect from deteriorating the domestic economy.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how bank-specific factors affect the riskiness of conventional and Islamic banks in response to shocks in major financial indices as market conditions change.

The authors use a multivariate quantile model using daily equity returns data to analyze financial risk spillovers in the values at risk that may occur between major financial indices and the equity prices of conventional and Islamic banks worldwide. Then, using both quantile and quantile-on-quantile models, the authors examine the effects of bank-specific variables such as leverage ratio, bank size, return on equity and capital adequacy ratio on the initial impact of shocks in major global financial indices on bank equity price returns at different quantiles of shocks and bank-specific variables.

The findings reveal that major financial indices can predict bank stock returns. Moreover, the authors find that the effect of bank-specific factors on the riskiness of banks is heterogeneous in that it depends on the bank type (Islamic vs conventional), the level of banking variable (high vs low) and, more importantly, market conditions.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that compares the dual banking system with stock market performance while considering bank-specific variables as market conditions change. The results of this study reveal that the effect of bank-specific variables on bank performance varies according to different quantiles of shocks and bank-specific variables. Islamic banks may echo or differ from conventional banks depending on the specific factor under investigation.

This paper aims to achieve scale, efficiency and mitigate high monitoring costs, and explores the efficacy of micro equity finance at the enterprise level. The study compares the economic features of the proposed framework with interest-based debt finance.

This study uses a mathematical model to highlight the problem of agency costs including adverse selection and moral hazard.

Debt finance requires frequent repayments and indebtedness for financial inclusion. Conversely, the Islamic equity modes of financing in their current baseline structure suffer from high agency costs. By using enterprise level finance and distinct entry criterion for availing Islamic debt-based and micro equity finance, Islamic microfinance institutions (IMFIs) can reach the right targets and effectively mitigate the problem of adverse selection and high monitoring costs. The study suggests a framework in which equity financing could be used to fund microenterprises that will employ poor people with related skills.

As the preferable modes of Islamic finance, i.e. Musharakah and Mudarabah, are not used by Islamic financial institutions (IFIs), empirical analysis of performance is not possible as they are rarely used.

The study suggests a workable model that can use Islamic equity-based modes of financing to improve microfinance outreach and achieve scale. The use of equity financing will help the Islamic finance industry to move toward its egalitarian vision, and the practical implementation of the model will help in reducing poverty in the Muslim majority countries.

Muslim countries host half of global poverty, even though their share in global population is only one-fourth. Hence, there is need for solutions in achieving scale in poverty alleviation efforts.

Using a mathematical model, the paper presents agency problems in Islamic microfinance and proposes a solution through distinct entry criterion and enterprise level micro equity finance.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which Chinese equity investors can benefit from diversifying their portfolio into Shariah-compliant (Islamic) indices. It examines three Islamic stock indices (FTSE Shariah China price index, MSCI China Islamic IMI price index and the DJ Islamic Greater China price index) and ten sectoral indices in Shanghai Stock Exchange as a sample.

The multivariate GARCH dynamic conditional correlations (MGARCH-DCC) is deployed to estimate the time-varying linkages of returns of the selected indices, covering approximately eight years daily data starting from 28 August 2009 to 29 September 2017.

In general, in terms of volatility, the results indicate that all Islamic Indices are less volatile than the conventional indices. From the correlation analysis, the results imply that Chinese conventional equity investors would benefit from Islamic stock indices, especially when they include DJ Islamic Greater China in their portfolio.

The findings of this paper may have several significant implications for the Chinese equity investors and fund managers for better understanding about co-movements of the Chinese conventional sectoral indices with the Shariah-compliant stock indices with the purpose of gaining higher risk-adjusted returns through portfolio diversification.

The objective in this paper is to show that a generalised theory of development financing in Islamic context assumes a detailed general equilibrium approach to the solution of the following interrelated problems: The objective criterion of Islamic development co‐operation is recognised as the optimisation of an underlying ‘ummatic’‘shura’‐based social welfare function in the sense of social consensus formation. This social welfare model is implicitly invoked here, not explicitly formalised. The reader is referred to the glossary of Arabic terms used in this paper.

The aim of this paper is to present a model in which the relationship between Muslims’ involvement with traveling to Islamic destinations and Islamic destination brand equity is investigated.

Based on the existing theoretical and empirical research on involvement and brand equity in tourism marketing and the literature on Muslim tourists’ needs and culture, a conceptual model for Muslim tourists is developed. The model investigates the relationships between Muslims’ psychological motivations for traveling to Islamic destinations and the evaluation of destination Islamic brand.

The study shows that the more Muslims are involved in traveling to Islamic destinations, the more likely they evaluate the key dimensions of destination Islamic brand. This is demonstrated by the influence of Muslims’ involvement on their awareness of Islamic destinations, their image of the Islamic destination attributes, the perceived quality of Islamic offerings, the perceived Islamic value and their loyalty toward Islamic destinations.

The study evaluates the Islamic brand equity in the context of Islamic tourism destinations and in relation to Muslims’ interests in traveling to Islamic countries. The study contributes to better understand the Islamic destinations and how to maximize the benefits of their Islamic attributes. It is suggested that Islamic attributes should be highlighted more for Muslim tourists interested in traveling to Islamic countries. Investigating the concepts analyzed will help tourism destinations to integrate marketing and promotional campaigns and build a more powerful Islamic brand in Muslim markets.

The relationship between involvement and brand equity has not been yet explored adequately, especially in the context of Islamic branding. This study adds to the previous studies in which the link between personal involvement with a specific destination and destination brand equity was explored. The role of Islamic values in this relationship is highlighted. The study contributes to destination branding studies by being one of the primary works, which applies the concept of brand equity to Islamic destinations.

This paper aims to explore the potential application of mudharabah (silent partnership) as an investment instrument through an Islamic crowdfunding platform.

This is a qualitative study in which semi-structured interviews were carried out with several experts regarding the application of mudharabah in Islamic crowdfunding. To achieve the purpose of this study, the data is analysed based on thematic analysis.

The findings reveal that even though Islamic crowdfunding could be an efficient platform through financial technology (Fintech), mudharabah is not an entirely ideal instrument, particularly for equity-based Islamic crowdfunding because of its high risk. These include fraudulent projects, insufficient regulations to protect investors’ money and the structure of mudharabah itself in which it is in the form of profit-sharing contract. However, the risk can be mitigated by using Fintech as a way to closely monitor the project, enhancing regulatory aspects to protect investment funds, enhancing mudharabah practice and creating awareness among all involving parties in terms of mudharabah philosophy.

This study is limited because it focuses on the current practice of Islamic crowdfunding in Malaysia, given that it is still a new industry. Currently, there is only one Islamic registered equity crowdfunding platform. Also, as the number of interviewees in this study is limited because of purposive sampling, the findings may be considered the result of an exploratory study.

An equity Islamic crowdfunding platform based on mudharabah can be proposed, particularly to support micro enterprises in which they involve small capital. Also, this model can be considered for less risky ventures such as investment in food industries or technology sectors.

Mudharabah Islamic crowdfunding model could potentially support local businesses, especially for start-ups. By channelling money among society, it is not only creating a wealth circulation among society, which is one of the Sharīʿah objectives in finance, but it also promotes mutual cooperation and kindness among society members.

While Islamic crowdfunding is not a new topic in research, it lacks empirical studies, particularly qualitative analysis. As this study engages with experts in Sharīʿah and crowdfunding regarding the potential application of mudharabah, it highlights a fresh discussion both in theory and practice.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the international diversification benefits of Islamic bonds (Sukuk) for equity investors in conventional stock markets. The authors compare the diversification benefits of these securities with their conventional alternatives from advanced and emerging markets. Compared to conventional bonds, Sukuk are backed by tangible assets and carry both bond and stock-like features. Furthermore, the Sharia-based limitations limit the risk in these securities as a result of ethical investing rules. The regime-based model provides insight to possible segmentation (or integration) of these securities from global markets during different market states.

Risk spillover effects across conventional and Islamic stock and bond markets are examined using a Markov regime-switching GARCH model with dynamic conditional correlations (MS-DCC-GARCH). Weekly return series for conventional (advanced and emerging) and Islamic stock and bond indices are examined within a regime-dependent specification that takes into account low, high, and extreme volatility states. The DCC are then used to establish alternative diversified portfolios formed by supplementing conventional and Islamic equities with conventional and Islamic bonds one at a time.

Asymmetric shocks are observed from conventional stocks and bonds into Islamic bonds (Sukuk). Compared to emerging market bonds, Sukuk are found to display a different pattern in the transmission of global market shocks. The analysis of dynamic correlations suggests a low degree of association between Islamic bonds and global stock markets with episodes of negative correlations observed, particularly during market crisis periods. Portfolio performance analysis suggests that Islamic bonds provide valuable diversification benefits that are not possible to obtain from conventional bonds.

This study provides comprehensive analysis of volatility interactions and dynamic correlations across Islamic and conventional markets within a regime-based framework and provides insight to whether these securities could serve as safe havens or diversifiers for global investors. The findings have significant implications for global diversification strategies, particularly during market crisis periods.

This paper evaluates the performance of actively managed conventional and Islamic equity funds in a developing economy with a focus to assess the performance-growth puzzle posited by Gruber (1993) (a.k.a Gruber’s puzzle). Under the context of an emerging market of Pakistan, this study explores if actively managed equity fund (AMEF) managers have been able to add value by outperforming the market in terms of stock-selection and market-timing abilities; and the comparative performance analysis of Islamic versus conventional AMEFs is also carried out.

We employ Sharpe and Treynor ratios, Capital asset pricing model, Fama–French three factors model (1993), Carhart four-factor model (1997) and Hendrickson (1981) market timing models on 45 equity funds comprising of 23 conventional and 22 Islamic equity funds operating in Pakistan for a period of 10 years. The overall sample period (2008–2018) is divided into two 5 years sub-periods (i.e. 2009–2013 and 2014–2018) and three 3 years sub-periods (2009–2011, 2012–2014 and 2015–2017) to be viewed in conjunction with the country's macro-economic condition.

We report that the actively managed equity funds (AMEFs) were unable to beat the market index with their stock selection or market timing capabilities. However, AMEFs depicted improved performance in the post-global financial crisis period where both conventional and Islamic AMEFs generated substantial rewards for the given amount of risk. Also, conventional AMEFs outperformed Islamic AMEFs potentially due to their holdings in highly leveraged value and large-cap stocks, while Islamic AMEFS invest more cautiously in small-cap and value firms. Analysis of market timing skills revealed that the funds have not been able to select the undervalued stocks and adopted a defensive strategy in the post-global financial crisis recovery period.

Our findings shed some interesting insights and raise some pertinent questions for research, policy, and practice – specifically for developing countries’ context. The no ‘return-growth’ configuration defies its fit with the ‘Gruber puzzle’ and somewhat presents a case of what we call the ‘Inverse Grubber puzzle’. This novel notion of the ‘Inverse Grubber puzzle’ should inform policy and practice to reflect on their practices, institutional arrangement, regulatory framework and policy design in developing economies characterized by lacklustre performance and growth of AMEFs. For example, the regulatory design may consider focusing on stimulating financial inclusion and deepening by motivating low-cost Index tracker funds (ITFs) – with lower fund management costs, while allocating the avoided cost to flow towards effective marketing campaigns driving greater awareness, financial deepening, and investor base diversification. For future research, financial development researchers may explore the implications and appropriateness of AMEFs versus ITFs in other developing economies.

The work reported in this paper is original and constitutes a valuable asset for ethno-religious-sensitive investors. The research has not been published in any capacity and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Islamic and conventional equities.

To study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ASEAN Islamic and conventional equities, first, the authors calculated the volatility by using exponential generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity methodology and then used Wavelet methodology to see the co-movement between the volatility and returns of ASEAN equity market indicators and COVID-19 cases.

The authors find that until the beginning of August, COVID-19 adversely relates to the returns of both the indices. The conventional index seemed to have increased volatility during the time period, whereas the Islamic index seemed to have declined volatility.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the very few studies examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ASEAN Islamic and conventional equities. Additionally, this study adds value by comparing Islamic and conventional equities.