Thomson Reuters launches next generation Islami...

Trusted 'trading-ready' intelligent information, global connectivity and
                 transaction capability for Islamic Finance 2.0


Dubai and Abu Dhabi, 16, February, 2010 - Thomson Reuters today announced that
it has launched its next generation Islamic Finance Gateway to guide the
emerging industry to the next stage of growth and development.

Rushdi Siddiqui, Global Head of Islamic Finance, Thomson Reuters, said; "Despite
its  image as an  emerging industry, Islamic  finance has now  grown to be worth
around  US$1trillion and the Thomson Reuters Islamic Finance Gateway truly opens
up   this   world  of  possibilities  and  opportunities  for  financial  market
participants  and professionals.  The conventional,  western finance industry is
accustomed  to clean, crisp, robust information, real-time news, connectivity to
communities  and the ability to act and transact with trusted counterparties. By
providing these 'must have' features the Thomson Reuters Islamic Finance Gateway
demonstrates  the industry's  true breadth  and makes  the transition for all to
Islamic Finance a seamless one."
The  Thomson Reuters Islamic  Finance Gateway is  a global, neutral platform and
directory  consisting of details for and links to Islamic finance professionals,
rating   agencies,  industry  standards  bodies,  Islamic  finance  hubs,  index
providers,  consulting firms, 400 Shariah scholars and Islamic subsidiaries from
over  25 countries. Reuters Messaging  is embedded within  the Gateway to foster
communication and create the connections required to build and grow communities.
Available  on itsflagship Thomson Reuters 3000 Xtra desktop, The Thomson Reuters
Islamic  Finance Gateway improves transparency  through lower information search
costs  and provides greater global connectivity  and insight into the industry's
opportunities.
By  bringing  together  neutral,  intelligent,  Islamic, 'trading-ready' finance
information  and analytics  on a  common platform,  the Thomson  Reuters Islamic
Finance Gateway addresses the complete Islamic Finance work-flow.
Market   professionals  will  now  be  able  to  access  comprehensive,  trusted
multi-asset  class information  on a  wide range  of Islamic finance instruments
such  as Sukuks, Islamic  leveraged loans, funds,  Islamic money market, Takafol
and  currencies;  alongside  embedded  real-time  news stories from Reuters, and
correlation  analytics for Islamic versus  western conventional market views.The
Gateway  will also include  news of related industries  to Islamic finance, like
the $641 billion Halal food sector.

The  rich data and breaking news is  complimented by a global rolling tickertape
of  Islamic  and  conventional  indexes,  multi-currency  real  time  inter-bank
conventional versus Islamic inter-bank rates, an information fund supermarket[1]
and  click-through links to Gateways for the; Organisation of Islamic Conference
(OIC),  Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Association  of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) and G-20 countries.
A  unique heat map of Shariah-compliant and Shariah-based companies developed by
IdealRatings,  creates  a  diverse  universe  of  publicly listed companies. The
Shariah-compliant  companies are  screened according  to global index providers'
methodologies,  plus Accounting and Auditing  Organisation for Islamic Financial
Institutions    (AAOIFI)    and    Malaysia's    Securities   Commission.    The
Shariah-compliant  companies  are  screened   by  various  economic  sectors and
regions.  They are complimented  by more than  100 publicly listed Shariah-based
companies  in regions and countries like GCC, Turkey, Pakistan, Malaysia and the
UK.
The   global   Islamic   finance   community   can   take  the  Thomson  Reuters
'trading-ready'  information  one  step  further,  by turning ideas into action.
Publicly  listed Shariah-based and  screened companies and  Islamic or commodity
ETFs  can  be  traded  over  the  Thomson  Reuters Trading for Exchanges (TRTex)
platform, which has been integrated within the Gateway.
Basil Moftah, Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Thomson Reuters, said,
"Islamic finance is an important part of our Middle East growth strategy, and
the Thomson Reuters Islamic Finance Gateway will not only address the Islamic
banking industry's needs, but will also enhance our ties to the greater MENA
region."

Following  the launch  in the  GCC, the  Thomson Reuters Islamic Finance Gateway
will  be introduced  to the  market in  Asia, via  a launch  in Kuala  Lumpur on
February 22.
Please  visit the following  link to seeRushdi  Siddiqui, Global Head of Islamic
Finance,  Thomson Reuters, talk through some of the main features of the Thomson
Reuters Islamic Finance Gateway:


http://www.thomson-webcast.net/uk/dispatching/?event_id=89d20cad62c1c09722b523b6
70ad3076&portal_id=73a72477685a98f6f3ea40850e410435
<https://connect.reuters.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp,DanaInfo=mail.emea.ime.reuter
s.com,SSL+?URL=

http://www.thomson-webcast.net/uk/dispatching/?event_id=89d20cad6
2c1c09722b523b670ad3076%26portal_id=73a72477685a98f6f3ea40850e410435>

Thomson Reuters
Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for
businesses and professionals.  We combine industry expertise with innovative
technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the
financial, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare and science and media markets,
powered by the world's most trusted news organization.  With headquarters in New
York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters
employs more than 50,000 people and operates in over 100 countries. For more
information, go towww.thomsonreuters.com <

http://thomsonreuters.com/>.


[1] Based on underlying data provided by Lipper, Thomson Reuters specialist
mutual fund data product


CONTACTS

Ian Villiers
Thomson Reuters

PR Director Sales & Trading
[phone]
[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>

Candice Sgroi
PR Manager Middle East and Africa
Thomson Reuters
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>

Chris Mullinger
Senior Consultant
Shamal Marketing Communications
T: [phone]
M: [phone]
[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>



[HUG#1384726]





     Press Release (PDF): 

http://hugin.info/142273/R/1384726/343451.pdf