Additional coverage available internationally in response to increased demand for valuations for Islamic Finance assets
Interactive Data Corporation, a leading provider of independent pricing and valuation services, today announced that it has expanded its agreement with Bond Pricing Agency Malaysia Sdn Bhd (BPA Malaysia), a leading national bond pricing agency.
Interactive Data is now distributing evaluated pricing for long-term Malaysian fixed income assets from BPA Malaysia. Demand for this content is increasing internationally due to the rapid growth of Islamic finance over the past few years, which has been estimated at a rate of 15-20% *.
Meor Amri Meor Ayob, chief executive officer of BPA Malaysia, said: “By further strengthening this relationship, we are now able to bring our expertise in hard-to-value bonds and sukuk to global fund processing centres. This helps meet the increasing need from the market for independent evaluated pricing as firms seek to manage their risk exposure globally”
“Interactive Data is dedicated to expanding its position as a leading provider of independent evaluated pricing services to financial institutions globally,” added Magnus Cattan, business development director, Interactive Data Asia. “By broadening our evaluated pricing coverage with this Malaysian content, our clients will have seamless access to information that will help them more effectively value their diverse international portfolios.”
Evaluated pricing for long-term Malaysian fixed income assets is available through FTSSM, Interactive Data’s flexible portfolio administration tool, and ExpressNetSM, a Web-based service for Asia-Pacific clients that provides access to a consolidated, comprehensive range of global financial market information services via a single platform.
Based in Kuala Lumpur, BPA Malaysia is the first and only registered bond pricing agency accredited by the Securities Commission of Malaysia. Over the last seven years, BPA Malaysia has progressively developed its core business to become the principal source of valuation and reference data on the Malaysian sukuk and bond markets. The company currently serves over 100 local and international financial institutions and also works with a wide range of strategic partners.
* KPMG, Growth and Diversification in Islamic Finance