President Barack Obama is presenting himself as a business-friendly centrist whose main concern is America’s competitiveness. Original post: Obama offers himself as business-friendly centrist (AP via Yahoo! News)

PacWest Bancorp today announced that on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, its wholly-owned bank subsidiary, Pacific Western Bank, completed the sale of 61 non-covered adversely classified loans totaling $323.6 million, which includes $107.6 million of nonaccrual loans, to an institutional buyer for $200.6 million in cash. Â The sale was on a servicing-released basis and without recourse to Pacific … Read...

HELENA — A coalition of advocacy groups launched a ballot initiative campaign Tuesday aimed at restricting the annual percentage rates for so-called “payday” and title loans. More: Groups push for restrictions on payday loans (Great Falls Tribune)

RIYADH, Feb 24 (Reuters) – Non-performing loans at Sabb bank , HSBC’s Saudi affiliate, soared more than 16 times to 3.53 billion riyals ($940.3 million) in 2009, according to financial statements published on Wednesday. Excerpt from: Saudi SABB says non-performing loans at $940 mln in 2009 (Reuters via Yahoo! Philippines News)

WESTPAC and ANZ banks have shut the door on the Federal Government’s green loans scheme. Read more here: Bank closes green loans early (Herald Sun)

SEATTLE—-En Masse Entertainment, a new breed of game publisher specializing in bringing globally renowned online properties to Western audiences, today announced its company formation. Read this article: En Masse Entertainment Debuts as New MMO Game Company (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)