Medium2 marksMultiple Choice
Business FinanceSection AFinancial ManagementSyllabus EIslamic Finance

ACCA · Question 07 · Business Finance

A government is funding a new offshore wind farm and wishes to attract Islamic finance investors. They decide to issue 'Green Sukuk' rather than conventional bonds.

Which of the following statements represents a fundamental difference between Sukuk and conventional bonds?

Answer options:

A.

Sukuk guarantees a fixed rate of interest return, whereas conventional bonds offer variable returns.

B.

Sukuk represents partial ownership in an underlying tangible asset, whereas conventional bonds represent a debt obligation.

C.

Sukuk can only be issued by sovereign governments, whereas conventional bonds can be issued by corporations.

D.

Sukuk holders are immune to the operational risks of the underlying asset, unlike conventional bondholders.

How to approach this question

Identify the core principles of Islamic finance, specifically the prohibition of Riba (interest) and the requirement for asset backing.

Full Answer

B.Sukuk represents partial ownership in an underlying tangible asset, whereas conventional bonds represent a debt obligation.✓ Correct
In Islamic finance, the charging or receiving of interest (Riba) is strictly prohibited. Therefore, conventional debt is not permitted. Sukuk are Islamic financial certificates, similar to bonds, but they represent a proportional ownership interest in an underlying tangible asset or project. The returns to Sukuk holders are derived from the profit or rental income generated by that asset, not from interest.

Common mistakes

Assuming Sukuk is just the Arabic word for a conventional bond with interest.

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