Islamic Investment Funds: An Analysis of Risks and Returns

Abstract

Islamic finance has become an increasingly popular subject in recent years. Some Islamic investment vehicles have even become popular in the non-Islamic world, although the growth in their popularity has been dampened by lack of knowledge of their existence, their nature and their relative profitability. This paper presents an overview of the various kinds of Islamic investment funds and analyzes their relative profitability in an attempt to shed light on this potentially highgrowth investment avenue. The paper begins by identifying the various classifications of Islamic funds and goes on to discuss the more popular fund structures, the role of regulatory boards and the performance history of various Islamic funds. The paper concludes with a discussion of the challenges facing Islamic funds and the opportunities that exist for those who understand what Islamic funds are all about.