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CA-3.11.5

An Islamic bank licensee may be exposed to market risk through any fluctuation in the price of the underlying commodity that comes into its possession for a longer duration than normal — for example, when a customer refuses to honour his commitment to buy or when the agreement is non-binding. With CMLF and CMF on the asset side, market risk transforms into credit risk; that is, market risk is applicable before selling the commodities to the counterparty, while upon their being sold to the counterparty on deferred payment terms the market risk converts into credit risk. In view of the market practice relating to CMT whereby the commodities are sold instantaneously after being bought on the basis of a binding promise, there would be no market risk. On the other hand, if an Islamic bank licensee holds title to the commodities for any length of time in the CMT transaction, a market risk exposure will be present. Placement of funds in currencies other than the local currency will also expose the Islamic bank licensee to foreign exchange risk.

January 2015