It is rare to hear much about anything as mundane as lending at a Macquarie Group briefing but yesterday Macquarie chief executive Nicholas Moore had a new-found enthusiasm for that staid old banking practice.Lending grew 17 per cent in the June 2009 quarter, with the bulk of the loans going to Australian corporate clients.In the 12 months to March 2009 lending, leasing and margin-related income made up 18 per cent of operating income - the biggest source of income for the group.Moore also highlighted a new US credit trading operation as one of the group's business development areas. The credit trading team works in the treasury and commodities division.Moore said the group was "building a debt business in the US", without offering any more detail. A follow-up inquiry resulted in the following cryptic response from the corporate communications division: "Broader US debt business includes credit trading, emerging markets and various interest-rate hedging and other secured lending activities."But there was no news of a return to retail lending. Macquarie sold its margin lending business last year, closed some overseas mortgage operations and put local mortgage activity on hold.In a brief update on June quarter activity presented at yesterday's annual general meeting, Moore said all major businesses except Macquarie Capital had improved operational performance compared to the March quarter.Moore was cautious on the outlook but said the group had surplus capital and high cash levels and was ready to take advantage of growth opportunities.