Category: Syndicated

UK to focus on goods flowing as smoothly as possible

UK officials will prioritise the flow of goods into the UK over customs payments and paperwork in the event of a no-deal Brexit.  That is according to a UK government official, who said it would be possible for hauliers and others moving goods into Britain to complete customs declarations and pay duties afterwards rather than at […]

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High ranking in global pensions index masks underlying sustainability issues

High ranking in global pensions index masks underlying sustainability issues Ireland has the 11th best pensions system in the world, according to the 2019 Melbourne Mercer Global Pensions Index. The index placed Ireland ahead of countries such as Germany, the UK, France, Spain and Austria. However, the high ranking masks underlying concerns about sustainability. With […]

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Cautious welcome to Brexit deal from business groups north and south of border

Cautious welcome to Brexit deal from business groups north and south of border Business group Ibec said it was encouraged by the agreement between the EU and UK on a new Brexit Withdrawal Agreement. However, in a letter to members, Ibec CEO Danny McCoy said there had to be an awareness that the deal, if […]

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Retail suffers September slump amid uncertainty

Retail suffers September slump amid uncertainty Retailers have had their worst month since July 2013, according to research carried out among members of lobby group Retail Excellence Ireland. The Grant Thornton Retail Excellence productivity review for quarter three shows that sales were up by just over 1pc in July and August, but down 3.34pc in […]

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91% of households now have internet access

91% of households now have internet access New Central Statistics Office figures show that 91% of households have internet access in 2019, a rise of two percentage points since 2018. The CSO’s latest Information Society Statistics also reveal that fixed broadband is the most common type of household internet access at 84%, compared with 47% […]

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China’s growth slows to weakest level in 27 years

China’s growth slows to weakest level in 27 years China’s economy expanded at its slowest rate in nearly three decades in the third quarter, hit by cooling domestic demand and a protracted US trade war, data showed today. Chinese gross domestic product expanded 6% in the three months from July to September, down from 6.2% […]

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Activity in construction industry sees first slowdown in 6 years

Activity in construction industry sees first slowdown in 6 years Activity in the construction sector contracted for the the first time in over six years in September, Ulster Bank’s latest Purchasing Manager’s Index reveals. The PMI fell to 48.3 in September, a significant drop from 53.7 recorded in August. Any figure under 50 signals a […]

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Dublin market heading for big gain on Brexit hopes

Dublin market heading for big gain on Brexit hopes Dublin’s ISEQ index is on track for its biggest one-day percentage gain this year, soaring more than 230 points (3.7%) this evening, boosted by optimism that a Brexit deal can be reached. After holding talks yesterday in the UK, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and British Prime Minister […]

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China imports, exports down in September as growth cools

China imports, exports down in September as growth cools China’s imports and exports fell more than expected in September, official data showed today, as US tariffs and cooling demand at home and abroad hit trade in the world’s second largest economy. Globally, China’s exports dropped 3.2% in September from the same period last year, while […]

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Irish mortgage rates still higher than euro zone average

Irish mortgage rates still higher than euro zone average New figures from the Central Bank show that Irish mortgage holders continue to pay the second highest interest rates in the euro zone. The average interest rate on all new mortgages issued here in August stood at 2.99%, down two basis points since the beginning of […]

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