Australia

Australian SMEs are not expecting difficulty with loan repayments despite recent interest rate rises, according to a survey.

Australian companies are compelled to rely upon their own profits to fund overseas expansion according to a new survey by EFIC.

A four-day meeting of the Berne Union, a leading international trade organisation in the field of export credit and investment insurance, began in Sydney on Monday.

Western Australian businesses witnessed a drop in their funding against their trade debt for the last quarter of 2007 racking up $1.3bn in debtor finance loans, a 9% drop on the figure for the September quarter. However the state's businesses have seen the biggest national growth over five years in access to debtor finance, 307% from $1.3bn in 2002 to $5bn last year.

The IFD Annual Luncheon was held on 6 March 2008 in the Heritage Ballroom, Westin Hotel, Martin Place, Sydney.

The Institute for Factors and Discounters of Australia and New Zealand (IFD) Annual Luncheon was held on 28 February 2007.

Rising interest rates, record petrol prices, a choppy share market and volatile global market has seen consumer sentiment sliding sharply.

Export Finance and Insurance Corporation, Australia s export credit agency, and CPA Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on co-operation to assist Australian SMEs.

The latest World Risk Developments report from EFIC, details a dozen of the world s trouble spots where political problems and violence are producing economic fallout.

Brainytoys Ltd has resolved a potential dispute with Noble Investments Pty Ltd.