Category: Syndicated

Markets drop on US-China trade war fears

European stock markets and oil prices fell this morning as a spat between top U.S. officials and China over the origin of the coronavirus fuelled fears of a new trade war, derailing a rebound in global markets. European shares opened down 2.5% with U.S. stockfutures trading close to 1% in the red. Earlier, MSCI’s broadest index […]

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Residential property sales at lowest level since 2017

The residential property market is now at its lowest level for a first quarter since 2017, while sales in six counties in Leinster down by at least 6% compared with the same time last year, a new study shows.  The study, based on an analysis of residential property sales recorded in the Property Price Register, […]

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More than 427,000 workers now on wage subsidy scheme

More than 427,000 workers are now having their wages subsidised by the Government under the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, according to the latest figures published by the Revenue Commissioners.  More than 50,900 employers have registered for the TWSS with the Revenue Commissioners, who administer the scheme. Of those, 43,000 have already received subsidy payments.  In total, […]

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Manufacturing collapses in April due to Covid-19 – PMI

Manufacturing in Ireland is going through record falls in output and employment, according to a new survey.  The AIB Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index shows that in April output, new orders, exports and purchasing all fell at the fastest rates ever recorded.  The survey also found that it is taking longer for suppliers to deliver raw materials […]

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Carbon tax increase kicks in today

Households face increases in their energy bills from today as the hike in the carbon tax kicks in. The tax was raised by €6 to €26 per tonne of carbon dioxide in last year’s budget.  However, the increase was postponed until today on home heating fuels such as coal, peat, natural gas and home heating […]

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EU sets out ‘quick fixes’ to boost bank lending during pandemic

Banks should rein in bonuses to boost their capacity to help businesses and households hit by the coronavirus crisis, the European Union’s executive said today.  The European Commission set out a fresh package of temporary “quick fixes” offering capital relief that would support extra lending potentially worth up to €450 billion to companies struggling as […]

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S&P revises outlook for Irish banks downwards

Ratings agency S&P Global Ratings has revised down its outlook for three of the main Irish banks from stable to negative, saying that downside risks for the banks’ financial profiles remain substantial. However, the agency has affirmed the current ratings of AIB, Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB and KBC Bank Ireland. It has also not […]

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Calls for law change to allow virtual AGMs

It is the time of the year when many companies are due to hold their Annual General Meetings, however, because of the Covid-19 crisis, and social distancing requirements, many AGMs have been rescheduled or postponed. Companies have found their firms in a Catch 22 situation – A company must have a physical AGM in order […]

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Oil prices fall on oversupply and storage capacity fears

Oil prices fell today on concerns about scarce storage capacity and global economic doldrums from the coronavirus pandemic.  US oil futures led losses, falling by more than $2 a barrel on fears that storage at Cushing, Oklahoma, could reach full capacity soon.  US West Texas Intermediate June futures fell $2.86, or 16.88%, to $14.08 a […]

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Minister says scale of challenge on national economy and households ‘now very clear’

591,000 people are now receiving the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, with around 21,000 receiving it for the first time this week.  That is on top of around 212,000 eligible for standard “non-Covid” Jobseekers benefit of €203 per week, and 337,400 receiving income support through the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme.  The Minister for Employment Affairs and […]

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