LENDING to the private sector is showing signs of moderating as higher interest rates begin to bite, new figures show.

WESTPAC is expected to sidestep the bad debt troubles faced by ANZ and report a healthy 8 per cent rise in first-half cash profit tomorrow.

ORIGIN Energy shares surged almost 40pc after a $12.9bn takeover proposal for the company from UK-based BG Group.

STRUGGLING shopping centre owner Centro Properties Group has been given a seven-day interim extension on $2.3 billion in debt owed to its lenders.