Category: Syndicated

Monday 12 March 2018 Ulster Bank kicks off new mortgage war with string of cuts to fixed rates

Ulster Bank has kicked off a new round of mortgage wars with a string of cuts to its fixed mortgage rates. The leading lender has ramped up pressure on its rivals by reducing its five-year fixed rates and by making it easier to qualify for its market-leading, four-year rate of 2.6pc. The move comes as […]

Continue Reading

Irish SMEs aren’t investing enough, warns ESRI study

Under-investment by small and medium-sized businesses was at over 30pc in 2016, with financial issues the biggest contributing factors, research has found. The study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) stated that there was “clear evidence” that actual investment is below what would be expected, given how companies are currently performing. ESRI researcher […]

Continue Reading

Only 11pc of SMEs using renewables

Almost four in 10 Irish businesses would be willing to pay higher energy costs if their energy was coming from renewable sources, according to a new survey. Half of those businesses would pay a premium of more than 5pc. The survey carried out by Behaviour & Attitudes on behalf of Calor found that only 11pc […]

Continue Reading

Thursday 8 March 2018 Dunnes Stores restructures 40 companies in group reshuffle

Dunnes Stores has completed a major corporate restructuring process by assimilating 40 individual companies into a principal entity within the group via a merger process. The move comes just months after it became apparent that the secretive retailer has been undergoing significant change as matriarch Margaret Heffernan (who turns 76 tomorrow) increasingly cedes control of […]

Continue Reading

Wholesale gas prices rocket as freezing conditions drive demand

Freezing temperatures pushed gas demand far above the seasonal norms at the end of February. The monthly energy report from Vayu shows that average Irish wholesale gas prices increased by 15pc on January 2018. Wholesale electricity prices saw a 14pc increase month-on-month. This is likely to lead to new price rises for businesses and households, […]

Continue Reading

Life expectancy slowdown boosts Legal & General

They say it is an ill wind that does not benefit someone. And with people now dying sooner than expected in Britain, the slowing gains in life expectancy are boosting returns at one of Britain’s leading life insurance and investment companies. Legal & General, the UK’s largest manager of pension assets, has just reported record […]

Continue Reading

Irish software company Intercom to create 350 jobs

Irish software company Intercom is to create 350 new jobs. The company, which provides a personal messaging service for businesses and their customers, will create 150 of the roles at its Dublin office, with the remainder being created in its London and San Francisco offices. The roles are set to be created over the next […]

Continue Reading

Airport wifi users to be targeted by DAA in sales push

The DAA is planning to leverage data from tens of thousands of passengers in an effort to significantly boost the €400m-plus annual retail and ancillary sales generated at Dublin and Cork airports. The semi-state agency is aiming to use existing data from 60,000 shoppers who have used its Loop retail space in both airports. It […]

Continue Reading

Cork and Dublin to get €200m student accommodation boost

Cork and Dublin are to benefit from a €200m deal to increase student resident accommodation in both cities. The deal, a joint venture between Harrison Street Real Estate Capital (HSRE) and the Global Student Accommodation Group (GSA), will see a total of 1,325 student beds added to the GSA/Harrison Street portfolio. The investment brings to […]

Continue Reading

Irish Life cuts prices of health insurance plans as levy is reduced

More health insurance price cuts have been announced. Irish Life Health said it will reduce the premiums on 15 of its non-advanced plans, with effect from the start of next month. The move is in response to a Government decision to lower the levy on basic policies. The non-advanced plans cover the cost of treatment […]

Continue Reading