THE FEDERAL Government will spend almost $8.5 billion on certain infrastructure projects, but has left the future of other infrastructure projects on ice.

As previously advised Lend Lease Corporation (“Lend Lease”) is not a forced seller of assets and has no intention of selling assets at sub optimal values. Given current market conditions Lend Lease does not believe it is appropriate to sell certain assets, including some equity investments in Public to Private Partnership projects in the UK this financial year. Revised guidance after the removal of these items and other adjustments for the year ending 30 June 2009 is Net Operating Profit after Tax of circa A$300 million.

Many Australians are unaware that the vast majority of lenders now require loan applicants to provide evidence of regular, genuine savings and at least a 5% deposit outside of any grants or other incentives*.

Macquarie CountryWide Trust (ASX:MCW) today announced it has signed unconditional contracts for two disposals in Australia totalling A$14.7 million. A further settlement has also occurred on the US portfolio sale to an affiliate of Inland Real Estate Acquisitions Inc (Inland), with the completion of the sale of eight assets for US$144.1 million (A$198.9 million), bringing the total value of this transaction to US$264.1 million (A$380.8 million).

Macquarie Leisure Trust Group (ASX:MLE) today announced unaudited total revenue and earnings results by division for the nine month period ended 31 March 2009.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has announced today that the Official Cash Rate will remain unchanged this month. Therefore the Official Cash Rate continues at 3.00%.

Australand has secured approvals from three domestic banks for a total of $350 million which, subject to documentation and together with existing undrawn facilities, will provide the Group with sufficient capacity to repay the $563 million CMBS facility maturing on 25 June 2009. Existing undrawn facilities and cash at bank as at 31 March 2009 was in excess of $560 million. Commitments have also been secured to renew $100 million of the existing $150 million of unsecured facilities expiring in 2009.

LEND LEASE managed Australian Prime Property Fund has sold a half share of Melbourne's 1 Spring Street office building in the Melbourne CBD for about $65 million, reportedly to a high net worth private investor.

ONE OF the world's biggest companies - and land owners - General Electric, has called for the Rudd Government to fix a loophole in the proposed $30 billion taxpayer-funded Australian Business Investment Partnership, otherwise known as the "Rudd Bank".

Federal Shadow Minister for Housing and Local Government, Scott Morrison, said today’s official housing finance figures for February show the banks have increased their market share of new housing loans to the highest level on record, creating a new low point for competition in our home mortgage market.

THE RESERVE Bank of Australia has decreased Australia's official interest rate by 25 basis points, to 3 per cent, its lowest rate since March 1960.

BORROWERS who have loans with Australia's "Top 4" banks, are eligible for a repayment relief, Prime Minsiter Rudd said today.

The beleagured General Property Trust has sold three assets for $47 million.

SYDNEY-based home builder Wincrest Homes has resumed construction of almost 200 homes, after going into voluntary administration on January 2 this year.

RECORD FUNDS Management Limited, manager of the Record Realty Trust, has gone into receivership with debts of around $1.8 billion.