The recent consolidation in the industry has given banks the power to influence brokers about the recommendations they make to their clients, according to Opportune Home Loans.

The number of owner-occupied housing finance commitments fell by 7.9% in January as first homebuyers refuse to enter the market without generous government subsidies

Australia\'s job market is outperforming just about every major economy in the world with one in five employers looking to hire more workers and the number of job ads being placed increasing at a never before seen rate

Hometrack’s new desktop valuation tool – Hometrack Valuer (HTV) – promises to speed up mortgage processing times, minimise escalations to onsite inspections and reduce risk to lenders

Tony Abbott’s proposed plan to introduce a national paid parental leave scheme has received support from the Council of Small Business of Australia (COSBOA)

More small and medium-sized business owners are optimistic about the outlook for their companies than has been seen since the beginning of the GFC, according to NAB.

As a major sponsor of Clean Up Australia Day, Commonwealth Bank is inviting all Australians to join local clean-up sites across the country on Sunday, March 7.

ING DIRECT Australia announced a record net profit after tax of $263.7 million for the 12 months to December 31 2009, up 45% on the previous year.

US banks posted their sharpest decline in lending since 1942 at the end of last year, suggesting that the industry\'s continued slide is making it harder for the economy to recover.

Zobel the South Australian mortgage broking franchise has announced the appointment of Ben Hall as its new CEO.

Mortgage manager Homeloans Ltd has announced the reductions in interest rates on its flagship range of Premium home loan products.

National mortgage manager Australian First Mortgage has today announced that effective 1st March 2010 the rate on its Complete Option Full Doc loan will be reduced by 10bps to 5.89% for LVR\'s of 65% or less.

While in some parts of the world, industries and corporations have fallen prey to the Global Financial Crisis causing profit loss, bankruptcy and retrenchments, Australians are only now beginning to feel the pinch subjecting them to fear and uncertainty of their own job security.

Brokers operating under National Mortgage Brokers (nMB) will be able to offer their clients an exclusive nMB-branded loan following the aggregator joining forces with The Rock Building Society.

LJ Hooker Financial Services (LJHFS) and Southern Cross Broker Network (SCBN) have struck up a commercial partnership to provide, manage and expand mortgage broking franchising services to WA and Victorian LJ Hooker real estate offices

Liberty Financial\'s says its decision to increase the maximum LVR for prime full doc business to 80% whilst significantly sharpening rates across the board is another step signalling the end of the GFC

Westpac has confirmed it will be the \'official event partner\' for the mortgage industry\'s night of nights, the Australian Mortgage Awards 2010.

The International Monetary Fund has issued a plea to countries considering unwinding their economic stimulus measures: do not do it quickly and most probably do not do it now.

The Bank of Queensland will not follow the Commonwealth Bank\'s move to enter into a $200 million compensation scheme for clients of the failed Strom Financial group, raising the prospect of a court challenge.