Briefs: BOQ stake may be for sale, commercial lending lifts and more

The largest shareholder in Bank of Queensland may be looking to sell its 12.1 per cent stake in the bank. The Financial Review speculated thatBRED Banque Populaire, of France, may seek a buyer given its need to raise capital and and weak outcome in the most recent stress test by regulators in Europe. Banque Populaire began building its stake in BOQ in early 2008.

-- The flow of business loans picked up in November, with a rise of 17 per cent to A$36.3 billion over the month, on a seasonally adjusted basis. This is the highest level of demand for business loans since April 2008.

-- Arrears of 30 days or more on prime home loans monitored by Fitch Ratings fell 17 basis points, to 1.52 per cent, over the quarter to September 2011, Fitch Ratings said. It expects this trend to continue.