Author: splash

NAMA completes transfer of €2 billion to Exchequer

The National Asset Management Agency has completed its transfer of €2 billion to the Exchequer.   The sum represents half the expected surplus from NAMA’s operations. The agency made the announcement at the publication of its annual report today.  The expected balance of an additional €2 billion will be paid over the next two years. […]

Continue Reading

NTMA due to hold two bond auctions in third quarter

The National Treasury Manangement Agency said today it plans to hold two bond auctions in the third quarter of this year. The NTMA said it will hold bond auctions on July 9 and September 10. The agency is also planning three Treasury Bill sales and these are pencilled in for July 16, August 20 and […]

Continue Reading

EU reopens to outside visitors in bid to save tourism

The European Union has reopened its borders to visitors from 15 countries, but excluded the United States where deaths are rising again and a top health official warned the country was heading in the “wrong direction”. The final list of nations safe enough to allow residents to enter the EU did not include Russia, Brazil or […]

Continue Reading

Covid-19 committee hears SMEs call for more Govt funding to survive

The Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response has heard calls for more help for small and medium businesses affected by the pandemic. The Chair of SME Recovery Ireland, John Moran, told politicians that small and medium businesses across Ireland are dying and need more funding to help them to survive. In his opening statement, Mr Moran called […]

Continue Reading

‘Lenders have responsibility to borrowers’ – BPFI

The chief executive of Banking Payments Federation Ireland has said it is not unreasonable for banks to look closely at applicants coming forward for mortgages and loans.  Brian Hayes’ comments follow news of AIB’s stricter lending guidelines as a result of the impact of Covid-19.  Mr Hayes said that lenders have a responsibility to borrowers.  He […]

Continue Reading

Spend yesterday approached pre-Covid levels – Revolut

Hairdressers, barbers, spas, chiropractors and dentists were among the big beneficiaries of the Phase 3 reopening of the economy yesterday, according to transaction data from Revolut. Pubs and restaurants also got a boost from the restart of business, although to a lesser extent than the other big winners. Excluding online shopping, overall spending yesterday by […]

Continue Reading

Extra €2.5bn to be spent on health, business supports

The Dáil has agreed to spend at least another €2.5 billion on health and business supports due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly confirmed that an additional €2bn was required to pay for health services this year, bringing the department’s revised spending estimate for 2020 to almost €20bn. The estimate has increased by upwards of […]

Continue Reading

Covid-19 adjusted unemployment rate falls to 22.5% in June – CSO

The country’s unemployment rate, including those receiving temporary Covid-19 jobless benefit, fell to 22.5% at the end of June from 26.1% a month earlier, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show. Today’s monthly unemployment figures reflect the first two stages of the economy’s gradual re-opening.  The unemployment rate, which stood at just 4.8% before […]

Continue Reading

CCPC tells businesses to act independently on prices

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has warned businesses that despite economic challenges, they must act independently in their commercial decisions, especially when setting prices and charges.  The warning comes on the back of engagement between the CCPC and a number of trade associations after they made public statements about new potential charges and price increases, […]

Continue Reading

Euro zone factory downturn eased in June as lockdowns loosened

The downturn in euro zone manufacturing was not as bad as initially thought last month after more economies in the bloc eased restrictions imposed to quell the spread of the coronavirus.  Over 10 million people have been infected by the virus globally and more than 500,000 have died. This lead governments to impose lockdowns and force […]

Continue Reading