Risk disclosure and financial performance: the case of Islamic and conventional banks in the GCC

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman E. Haddad ◽  
Hussain Alali

Purpose This study aims to explore the extent of risk disclosure (RD) among conventional banks (CBs) and Islamic banks (IBs) listed on stock markets in the Gulf cooperation council (GCC). It also examines the influence of RD on the banks’ financial performance as measured by return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). Design/methodology/approach This study uses content analysis to examine RD in the annual reports of 16 CBs and 14 IBs in the GCC for a sample of 240 firm-year observations over the period 2007 to 2014. Findings The study shows no significant differences between the RD reported in the annual reports of CBs and that of IBs. On average, a CB reported 234 sentences while an IB disclosed 244 sentences of RD in its annual report. The authors also find that both types of banks had an upward trend over the periods. While the means of RD reported by CBs have significantly improved over the period, the RD reported by IBs has not. Similar results are also found when the authors compared the RD pre- and post-financial crisis period. Finally, the authors find that there is a significant association between RD and both models of financial performance (ROA and ROE) for IBs, after controlling other variables. However, RD has a significant association with only ROE for CBs. Research limitations/implications The bank selection was restricted to publicly traded banks in the GCC. Other financial institutions and different types of industries were not considered. Further research could determine whether the results obtained in this study could be generalized to different industries in the GCC and or in other countries. Practical implications This study provides evidence on the significant association between RD and the financial performance of CBs and IBs in GCC countries. This study could be helpful to regulatory authorities in encouraging banks to adopt the best practice of RD and thus promote banks’ transparency. Originality/value This is the first known study to examine the RD practices of both types of banks and their association with banks’ financial performance in five-GCC countries (Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain), based on a longitudinal analysis of year-end annual reports, covering eight years period from 2007 to 2014.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdalmuttaleb Musleh Alsartawi

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the relationship between the composition of Sharīʿah supervisory boards (independence and frequency of meetings) and the performance of Islamic banks in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Design/methodology/approach The study developed a multiple linear regression model, and data were collected from the annual reports of 48 standalone Islamic banks listed in the GCC countries covering the period between 2013 and 2017. Findings The results showed a statistically significant and negative relationship between the composition of the Sharīʿah supervisory boards and the performance of Islamic banks. Research limitations/implications As the current study used only one indicator, that is Return on Assets to measure performance, it is recommended to expand the framework of this study, through the addition of market-based performance indicators such as Tobin’s Q. Practical implications This study recommends the GCC countries to follow a more proactive Sharīʿah governance model to strengthen their frameworks from both regulatory and non-regulatory aspects. Originality/value The study contributes to the Sharīʿah governance and Islamic banking literature relating to the GCC countries as previous studies gave no attention to the composition of Sharīʿah supervisory boards.



Author(s):  
A.A. Ousama ◽  
Helmi Hammami ◽  
Mustafa Abdulkarim

Purpose The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the impact of intellectual capital (IC) on the financial performance of Islamic banks operating in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Design/methodology/approach The study measures IC by the value added intellectual coefficient model. A regression analysis was used to assess the impact of IC on financial performance. The research sample consisted of Islamic banks operating in the GCC countries during the years 2011, 2012 and 2013. Data originated from the annual reports of Islamic banks. Findings The results support the thesis that IC has a positive impact on the financial performance of Islamic banks. Even though the average IC is lower than that reported in other studies, the positive effect on financial performance is obvious. The findings also show that human capital (HC) is higher than capital employed (CE) and structural capital (SC). The study reveals that SC has an insignificant impact on the financial performance of the Islamic banks compared to CE and HC. Practical implications The findings provide empirical evidence that IC affects the Islamic banks’ financial performance. It helps Islamic banks in the GCC countries to understand how to use their IC efficiently, especially SC as it is yet to be used efficiently. Also, the findings benefit the relevant authorities (e.g. legislators and central banks) who could use them to emphasise strategic policy reforms whenever required. Originality/value The current research adds to the empirical studies in the GCC countries as it views the region as a collective as opposed to individual countries. It also extends the IC and performance measurement literature of Islamic banks in the GCC countries. Moreover, the current study enriches the limited literature on IC in the context of Islamic banking.



2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rim Boussaada ◽  
Abdelaziz Hakimi

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to examine whether multiple large shareholders and their interactions affect bank profitability in the MENA region.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve this goal, we used a sample of conventional banks in the MENA region observed during the period 2004–2015. We performed the System Generalized Method of Moment as the empirical approach.FindingsEmpirical results indicate that under the dispersion hypothesis, multiple large shareholders (MLS) tend to reduce bank profitability for both return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). However, under the alignment of interests’ hypothesis, coalition between the first and the second largest shareholder increases bank profitability only for ROA. We also find that an additional large shareholder, beyond the two largest, reduces bank return equity.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, to date, there is no study that investigates the effect of MLS and the bank profitability in the MENA region. Indeed, this study shows the importance of considering ownership composition among large shareholders in banking studies.



2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna Prasad Pokharel ◽  
Madhav Regmi ◽  
Allen M. Featherstone ◽  
David W. Archer

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify financial stress and the causes of financial stress for agricultural cooperatives and provide management recommendations to stakeholders including cooperatives’ managers, boards of directors and lenders. Design/methodology/approach This research used the geometric mean of the real rate of return on equity to identify financially stressed agricultural cooperatives. The real rate of return on equity allows the allocation of total financial stress among the return on assets, leverage and interest rate issues. Findings This study found that financially non-stressed agricultural cooperatives had a higher rate of return on equity and rate of return on assets, but lower leverage ratios and interest rates than stressed agricultural cooperatives. Further, non-stressed cooperatives had higher total assets and sales compared to stressed cooperatives. This suggests that smaller cooperatives are more likely to face financial stress than larger cooperatives. The decomposition of the financial problem showed that a substantial percentage of financial stress was correlated with a low return on assets or profitability. A smaller percentage of financial stress was due to financing decisions. Originality/value This study provides value by measuring the impact of profitability, leverage and interest rate on the financial performance of agricultural cooperatives. Results showed that a substantial proportion of financial stress was associated with a low return on assets. This indicates that profitability is a problem for agricultural cooperatives. This study also examines profitability during a period of volatile returns in production agriculture.



2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Musaed S. Alali

This study aims to compare the financial performance between Islamic and conventional banks listed at Kuwait stock exchange over the period 2011-2018 using the modified DuPont model of financial analysis which is based on the analysis of return on equity (ROE). Unlike previous studies where researchers compared the performance on a bank-to-bank basis, this study examines the aggregate ratios of Islamic banks and compare it to aggregate ratios of conventional banks. The study also adds volatility into the model since consistency in returns indicated a more stable sector.  Results obtained from this study showed that conventional banks in Kuwait had a better mean performance during the study period in terms of both return on assets (ROA) and return in equity (ROE), Islamic banks also showed a higher deviation in these two ratios resulting in a lower Sharpe ratio. While the results showed no statistically significant mean difference between Islamic and conventional banks in terms of return on assets (ROA), the results also showed a statistically significant difference in mean return on equity (ROE) between the two sub-sectors.  On the other hand, Islamic banks showed an impressive improvement in their ratios during the last three years of the study period which impose a real threat to conventional banks in the future.



2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 375-385
Author(s):  
Yasin Ahmed Sulub ◽  
Marhanum Che Mohd Salleh

This paper analyses the financial performance of Islamic (IB) and conventional banks (CB) in Malaysia comparatively, within the scope of a dual setting arrangement in the Malaysian financial industry. Performance evaluation of both types of banks relies on ratio analyses which include Return on Equity (ROE), Return on Assets (ROA), Earnings per Share (EPS) and Debt Ratio. Data for this study covers four full-fledged IBs and four CBs in the period between 2012 and 2016. Based on statistical analysis (t-test and correlation analysis), the average of ROE was 6% for IBs and 14% for CBs. Results of t-test reveals that this higher performance of CBs is significant (t-test=1.957, p-value= 0.029). Furthermore, both ROA and EPS were significantly different between the two groups at p-value less than 1%. These results indicate that the Malaysian CBs performed better than IBs, at least for the banks included in this study. In terms of debt ratio, (the percentage of liabilities to total assets), IBs carry more debts than CBs. The risk of this higher debt is that the bank may be at risk of bankruptcy and may not be able to pay its obligations on time. The difference between the average debt of the two groups is significant at less than 5% (t-test= -2.251, p-value= 0.015). Therefore, not only is IBs’ performance inferior to CBs but their debt ratio is also higher. This research has implications for IBs; they should further improve their performance to become more competitive in the current environment for the financial industry. More importantly, IBs need to uphold Islamic ethics throughout their business operations to ensure that both the stated principles and subsequent objectives are achieved.



2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naji Mansour Nomran ◽  
Razali Haron

Purpose There is much debate in the literature about how the performance of Islamic banks (IBs) should be measured. Basically, IBs’ business models are different from that of conventional banks; thus, the performance of IBs should be measured by using a Sharīʿah-based approach. This paper considers zakat (Islamic tax) as an alternative indicator to measure the performance of IBs. This paper aims to examine whether zakat ratios can be used as Islamic performance (ISPER) indicators for IBs besides the conventional performance (COPER) indicators. Design/methodology/approach The investigation covered a sample of 214 yearly observations of 37 IBs located in Indonesia, Malaysia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for the period 2007–2015. This study used a single-factor congeneric model and confirmatory factor analysis, performed using the AMOS 23.0 software. Findings The findings assert that the discriminant validity of multi-bank performance, as measured by ISPER [zakat on assets (ZOA) and zakat on equity (ZOE)] and COPER indicators (return on assets, return on equity and operational efficiency in terms of assets), is very high. Hence, ISPER and COPER measurements are valid, either together to measure the multi-performance of IBs from both the Islamic and conventional perspectives, or independently as each measurement is valid to measure the Islamic and conventional performance if it is used separately. Research limitations/implications This paper does not investigate whether the findings are constant across time. This represents one of the limitations of this study. Practical implications It is strongly recommended that IBs calculate and disclose zakat ratios, particularly ZOA and ZOE, in their annual reports. Researchers and academicians should use these ratios for measuring the ISPER of IBs, either along with COPER or separately. Originality/value Empirical evidence is provided in this paper on the development and validity of zakat ratios as ISPER indicators in the Islamic banking industry. Zakat ratios are suitable indicators that can measure IBs’ performance and achieve the goals of IBs as well as those of Islamic economics. Technically, zakat has a dynamic ability to reflect the profitability of IBs. The more the IBs generate profit, the more they pay zakat. Furthermore, the greater the total assets of IBs, the higher the amount of zakat that they should pay. Thus, zakat ratios can be used as profitability measurements as in the case of tax ratios.



2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boutheina HASHEM ◽  
Hiyam SUJUD

This study compares the performance of Islamic and conventional banking in Lebanon in terms of Return on Assets and Return on Equity over the period 2012-2016. Moreover, it examines whether the internal characteristics of the bank may explain the difference in profitability between two types of banking transactions. In addition, the results of the study are analyzed using a regression analysis applied to a sample of both Islamic and conventional banks to investigate the effects of these variables on bank performance. Furthermore, results show that Islamic banks in Lebanon have better asset adequacy compared to conventional banks. However, conventional banks are better in liquidity and are on an average more profitable than Islamic ones. It is worthy to indicate that the Islamic banking industry in Lebanon is still in its infancy and only very few of the banks were active in this sector.



Author(s):  
Hana Ajili ◽  
Abdelfettah Bouri

Purpose This paper aims to assess the measurement of the Corporate Governance (CG) quality of Islamic Banks (IBs) and its effect on financial performance. Design/methodology/approach In the applied part of this study, a sample of 44 IBs operating in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were investigated according to information provided by the national central bank websites of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. To measure the governance quality, CG-index was constructed based on three sub-indices which are the Board of Directors (BOD), the Audit Committees (AC) and the Shariah Supervisory Board (SSB) indices. Findings Findings revealed that CG quality of IBs in GCC countries adhere to 74 per cent of the attributes addressed in the CG-index. The results also showed that IBs in GCC countries valued the effectiveness of SSB much more than the conventional CG mechanisms. Using multiple regression models, findings suggested no statistically significant relation between CG quality and financial performance which would imply that good CG had an insignificant association with high performance in GCC IBs. Originality/value The current paper may serve to assist IBs stakeholders to better understand the CG practices of IBs. In addition, the observed insignificant relation between the quality of CG practices and performance should sensitize the IBs regulators in the GCC countries to the necessity of improving the existing CG requirements.



2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Achraf Haddad ◽  
Anis El Ammari ◽  
Abdelfattah Bouri

PurposeThis study aims to test empirically the differences between Islamic and conventional banks in terms of impacts of the audit committees' quality on financial performance between Subprime and Corona crises.Design/methodology/approachThe variables are articulated in four hypotheses tested by the GLS analysis. The data were collected via DATASTREAM and from banks' annual reports. The collected data covered four continents: America, Asia, Africa and Europe. The financial performance measures and audit committee's determinants of the conventional and Islamic banks concerned 112 banks of each type after the Subprime crisis and before the Corona crisis (2010–2019).FindingsResults showed that the audit committee reduced the profitability of two bank types. Moreover, it harmed the conventional banks' efficiency, but reported an unclear effect within Islamic banks. Even so, the authors noticed that the audit committee had a positive impact for the conventional banks' liquidity, while the same effect was apparently ambiguous on the Islamic banks' liquidity. For solvency, the audit committee positively influenced conventional banks, while it affected that of Islamic banks.Research limitations/implicationsEmpirically, the authors’ results can serve as a reference for decision-makers allowing to clarify the data on the financial competitiveness of two bank types to facilitate the planning of strategic performance programs based on the audit committee quality. Theoretically, researchers found that the differences between the results are due to the audit committee quality of each bank type or to the financial performance evaluation method. However, there are further factors that are related to the research peculiarities, the methodology, the data and the interpretation.Originality/valueBased on the comparative literature review between conventional and Islamic banks, this study is the first conditional and comparative research between the audit committee quality and the financial performance of conventional and Islamic banks in a specific period (after Subprime and before Corona crises).



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