ASCIANO group have extended last Tuesday’s deadline to lodge bids for its port and rail assets until the end of the week, after a couple of parties requested an extension due to the Easter break.Mark Rowsthorn, Asciano chief executive, said the board would meet next week to decide on the shortlist of bidders. Join discussion...

Debt-heavy Australian ports operator Asciano Group Ltd (AIO.AX), which put itself up for sale last week, is attracting interest from private equity funds, but faces a tough job convincing its lenders after missing a previous target to sell assets. Join discussion...

Taking a page out of John Maynard Keynes, president-elect Barack Obama wants to put together a stimulus package that could create 2.5 million jobs by 2010. One area of focus involves rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure, namely its airports, seaports, bridges, highways, electrical power systems and waste water treatment plants. Join discussion...

Last year the OECD estimated that the world needs to spend around $75 trillion on infrastructure in the next 22 years - or 4 to 5 per cent of the world's GDP. Enough to make bankers' eyes water with pleasure - or trepidation. Join discussion...