Macquarie Group's lending and leasing activities were the biggest contributors to group income during the six months to September.The group, which once said that returns on lending were too low, is now heavily reliant on what it calls "annuity business" for earnings growth. Lending and leasing made up 25 per cent of income during the half.Macquarie Group is a provider of specialist finance, including lending and leasing for aircraft, motor vehicles, information technology, rail, mining and energy assets. It is one of the biggest providers of motor vehicle finance in Australia.Most of this business fits within the group's Corporate and Asset Finance division, which contributed net profits of A$358 million to total earnings. The division's profit was up 46 per cent on the previous corresponding period.  The loan portfolio was $8.4 billion at the end of the first half - up 20 per cent on the previous corresponding period. The motor vehicle leasing portfolio was up two per cent to $6 billion and the aircraft leasing portfolio was up "significantly" to $3.7 billion.Securitisation activity continues, with $600 million of motor vehicle leases and loans secured during the half.