The bad loans of universal and commercial banks are in their lowest level in over a decade, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently said. See more here: Banks’ bad loans ratio lowest in 13 years (Malaya)

China tightened rules on personal and working capital loans to prevent them from being used for speculation after credit growth and asset prices gained. Originally posted here: Beijing tightens rules on business personal loans (Taipei Times)

A group of fund managers is in advanced talks to put up most of the capital needed for a financial vehicle that will buy toxic loans as part of Ireland’s “bad bank” scheme, the Sunday Times reported. Excerpt from: Fund managers to invest in "bad bank" loans (Reuters via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News)

The Home Mutual Development Fund (Pag-IBIG) plans to extend P50 billion worth of housing loans to its members this year to address the country’s housing backlog of 2.36 million homes. Excerpt from: Pag-IBIG eyes P50B in housing loans in ’10 (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) – Students of the UAB School of Business will be providing free tax preparation to qualifying Birmingham citizens. The UAB chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants will be holding the services on the Saturdays of February 20 th , March 6 th and March 27 th . See the rest here: UAB business students providing free tax preparation (FOX 6 News Birmingham)

Qantas Airways Ltd, Australia’s biggest airline, forecast an increase in business class fares as demand recovers after a global travel slump. “We are seeing the business market demand improve,” Qantas chief executive officer Alan Joyce told Sky News Business yesterday. Read more: Qantas CEO Joyce says business fares may rise (Taipei Times)