Both the housing finance and business lending markets continued to pick up momentum in March, although the rate of growth remains modest.Lenders' mortgage balances grew by 0.5 per cent in March and by 5.9 per cent in the 12 months to March, according to Reserve Bank figures released yesterday.Month-on-month, growth was unchanged from February, while the annual rate of growth is up from 5.8 per cent in February.Growth in lending to owner-occupiers was steady, at 0.4 per cent month-on-month. Lending to investors increased by 0.7 per cent in March, compared with growth of 0.6 per cent the previous month.Personal loan balances fell for the second month - down 0.1 per cent in March after falling 0.2 per cent in February. Over the 12 months to March personal loan balances have increased by just 0.4 per cent.Business loan balances were up 0.2 per cent in March, compared with an increase of 0.4 per cent in February. Business loan balances increased by 2.6 per cent over the 12 months to March.