Author: splash

11% increase in PUP recipients in seven days

Almost 330,000 people will receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week – up over 11% in the last seven days, according to the latest Department of Social Protection figures. The figure reflects the continuing upward trajectory of unemployment since Level 5 restrictions were imposed by the Government in a bid to quell the latest surge […]

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European stocks drop as US election race tightens

European stocks slid this morning in early trade as the race for the White House remained too close to call.  London’s FTSE index had dipped 0.1%, while the Paris CAC was down 0.3% and the Frankfurt DAX dropped 1.1% in early trade. Dublin’s ISEQ index was also lower, dropping 1% in the first half hour […]

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Factory data lifts shares but investors remain wary of US election outcome

Shares recovered globally from one-month lows yesterday as strengthening factory data in China and Europe offset news of new virus lockdowns, while investors prepared for more volatility arising from the US presidential election. A boom in eurozone manufacturing in October helped Europe leave behind a cautious start after the UK became the latest country in […]

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Cabinet to discuss establishment of pensions commission

The Cabinet meets this morning with Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys expected to bring a memo proposing the formal establishment of a Commission on Pensions. Under the Coalition’s programme for government, the pension age will be maintained at 66 pending the completion of the Commission’s work – a position confirmed in last month’s Budget speech […]

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ISME writes to TDs to express Level 5 lockdown concerns

The Irish SME Association (ISME) has written to all TDs in Ireland to express its grave concern at the latest national “lockdown” due to Covid-19.  ISME told the TDs that it believes there are more effective, evidence-based and successful ways to respond to Covid-19, other than an arbitrary national lockdown.  The association called on TDs […]

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Pandemic sparks increase in online shopping

Two in five people stay they began shopping online for the first time at the start of the pandemic. It comes as an initial lockdown in Ireland at the end of March forced all non-essential retailers to temporarily pull down their shutters. Over half of consumers are increasingly shopping online due to Covid-19, according to […]

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Market for private rentals is strong with shortage of supply a big factor

The private rental market is among the few areas of the commercial property sector to so far escape being negatively impacted by the threat of a hard Brexit and Covid-19. This is due, in part, to a continued shortage of supply. There has been an escalation in interest from both domestic and international investors in […]

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Covid lockdowns bring recession threat back to Europe

Europe’s economic recovery is being cut short as governments implement new restrictions to fight the coronavirus that risk driving the region toward another recession. The four biggest economies are going into various forms of lockdown, overshadowing data that showed a record surge in third-quarter output. A new slump is on the cards, governments are pumping […]

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Ireland set for €8bn more ECB support

IRELAND is in line for €8bn of further borrowing support after the European Central Bank (ECB) signalled it would expand the Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP) in December. The predicted purchase of an additional €8bn in Irish Government debt next year is on top of the €10bn expected to be purchased by June next year […]

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Mortgage holders leaving thousands of euro on the table by failing to switch home loan providers – CBI research

Mortgage holders are leaving thousands of euro on the table by failing to switch home loan providers, according to new research by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI). Three in five eligible mortgages could save more than €1,000 in the first year after switching to a cheaper lender and more than €10,000 over the remaining […]

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