BUSINESS

Most brokers can't believe how simple vanilla commercial lending can be, and may easily be able add this new income stream to their home loan business, it has been claimed.

The ACCC is set to rule this week on a proposed merger that would see CBA acquire a large stake in Mortgage Choice.

Melbourne-based adviser Mark Davis has topped MPA’s Top 100 Broker list after settling a staggering $170m of home loans in 2010/11.

Super fund investments have been battered by inflation movements over the past half-decade, according to the latest assessment report issued over the weekend by superannuation analytic group Superratings.

Toyota Motor Corporation announced over the weekend that it is recalling about 550,000 cars from the market due to steering issues. In Australia, affected by the manufacturer recall are 21,792 Camry V6 vehicles made in Toyota's plant in Altona, Australia.

Resorts World Manila (RWM), a casino, hotel and mall complex beside Manila's international airport, launched its third hotel, the 712-room Remington Hotel, on Friday.

Low investor participation is seeing vacancy rates in Queensland tighten.

Australian shares are expected to start the week higher with the futures market pointing to a 1% gain when trade resumes today.

A non-bank lender has undercut the RBA's rate move, lowering rates on its products by up to 40bps.

- Lynas Corporation closer to first rare earth production- Upside potential still significant even if further delays- Macquarie initiates with an Outperform ratingBy Chris ShawWith the Mount Weld Rare Earth Project close to first production, market interest in Lynas Corporation ((LYC)) is growing.

Philippine-based international port developer International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) posted revenue from port operations of $474.9 million for nine months ending Sept. 30 2011. The income based on ICTSI's consolidated unaudited financial results for the period is 29 percent higher than the $368.2 million reported in the same period last year.

In the near-future, delivery trucks will land on soccer fields to deliver goods and services to hard-to-reach places.

Apple Inc. has informed registered owners of the first generation iPod nanos sold between September 2005 and December 2006 that the devices may overheat and pose a security risk.

In response to the issues raised on the iOS 5, Apple released the iOS 5.0.1. This update is expected to fix battery and security concerns that came up with the iOS 5.

Australian shoppers will have an easier time shopping this holiday season as major tablet manufacturers slash product prices this month.

Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from the Australian power industry increased by 3.8% over the month of October, as lost generation gradually made a comeback in the lead up to summer, according to October's Emissions Insights report from RepuTex carbon analytics.

It’s still a billion-dollar industry but newspaper publication continue to reflect sliding circulation numbers in the third quarter of 2011, with all major media firm affected by the consistent declines, according to latest available industry data.

Citibank will take the wraps off a new broker segmentation strategy in coming months, following the appointment of new head of broker distribution Aaron Milburn to drive its third party push.

Despite Australia being a prosperous nation, 11 per cent of adults in the country and 12 per cent of children live in poverty. About one million Australian children do not always have enough to eat. Efforts of Foodbank, the largest hunger relief organization in Australia, to reach these needy residents got a boost following the commitment by the Australian dairy industry to provide one million litres of milk yearly for residents in need.

Research findings published today by market researcher Newspoll suggest that almost half of Australians are 'supermarket grazers', who admit helping themselves to free produce while shopping in supermarkets.

Unsold housing stock is nearing record levels, and would take nearly eight months to clear.

Melbourne-based adviser Mark Davis has topped MPA’s Top 100 Broker list after settling a staggering $170m of home loans in 2010/11.

Chinese crude steel output has fallen nearly 10% since last May as the slowdown in Australia's most important export partner continues.

The week's flow of data from China confirms one point: China is the growth centre of the global economy, and Australia is one of its premier suppliers of raw materials.

Western Australia and BHP Billiton (ASX: BHP) agreed on Thursday to increase the royalty rate for iron ore after it amended the State Agreements Acts. The deal, however, is subject to approval by the state's parliament.

Rail firm QR National is building a rail system in Queensland that would transport coal from the Galilee Basin to port even if coal mining companies in the area have plans to develop their own rail system.

Barring any possible glitches, cigarettes marketed in Australia will hit the shelves in December 2012 bearing nothing but a plain olive brown packaging and a bold health advisory meant to dissuade smokers from lighting their next stick.

The pilots union of Qantas airlines has challenged before the Federal Court the ruling of Fair Works Australia (FWA) banning the group from staging industrial action.

Google is pulling the plug on the Gmail in BlackBerry and the email app will no longer be downloadable to the smartphone.