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Sterling extends losses as Brexit impasse prevails

Sterling extends losses as Brexit impasse prevails Sterling fell today for a second day in a row, as investors waited for parliament’s next step to break the Brexit impasse and opposition leaders gathered to discuss tactics. The European Union’s Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said Britain had yet to provide “legal and operational” proposals for an […]

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Retail sales rebound in August – CSO

Retail sales rebound in August – CSO Retail sales increased 2.1% in August on an annual basis, new figures from the Central Statistics Office show today. On a monthly basis, the CSO said that retail sales jumped by 5.7% in August compared to July. Excluding the motor trade, which has been very volatile in recent […]

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FTSE drops for 5th straight day after slew of profit alerts

FTSE drops for 5th straight day after slew of profit alerts London’s FTSE 100 fell for the fifth straight session on Thursday as profit warnings from tobacco firm Imperial Brands, Aer Lingus owner IAG and education company Pearson weighed down the blue-chip index. The FTSE 100 gave up 0.2pc, as Imperial and BAT shed 9pc […]

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Mortgage approvals see annual rise of 4.1% in August

Mortgage approvals see annual rise of 4.1% in August New figures show that the number of mortgages approved rose by 4.1% in August on an annual basis, while they fell by 15.1% compared to July. The Banking & Payments Federation Ireland, which is urging an extension of the Help to Buy scheme in next month’s […]

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Govt should consider supplementary Budget to respond to Brexit – ESRI

Govt should consider supplementary Budget to respond to Brexit – ESRI The Economic and Social Research Institute has said the Government should consider a supplementary Budget in the New Year to respond to Brexit. Next month’s Budget will be drawn up on a “disorderly Brexit” scenario. In its latest Quarterly Economic Commentary, the think-tank warns […]

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UK factory output expectations plunge to 10-year low

UK factory output expectations plunge to 10-year low British factories’ own expectations for output fell in September to their lowest in more than 10 years, according to a survey that showed Brexit and a global slowdown weighing on manufacturing. The Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) monthly manufacturing order book balance fell to -28 in September […]

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Small firms need UK-style tax breaks to ‘fight back’, compete post-Brexit – Dublin Chamber

Small firms need UK-style tax breaks to ‘fight back’, compete post-Brexit – Dublin Chamber BUDGET 2020 must help small, indigenous companies to compete with a “more attractive” UK, chambers of commerce leaders told an Oireachtas committee yesterday. Dublin Chamber chief executive Mary Rose Burke, whose organisation represents more than 1,300 businesses, said capital gains tax […]

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Pound tumbles 1% as investors fear ‘never-ending limbo’ in UK politics

Pound tumbles 1% as investors fear ‘never-ending limbo’ in UK politics The pound fell 1% today against the dollar, ceding gains made the previous day after the Supreme Court’s ruling against Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Investors are pricing in many more months of Brexit and general election risk. Boris Johnson was dealt a blow by […]

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Oil prices fall due to weak economic data, Saudi output recovery

Oil prices fall due to weak economic data, Saudi output recovery Oil prices fell today after weak manufacturing data from Europe and Japan focused market attention on a gloomy outlook for demand. The drops also came as Saudi Arabia said it could restore oil output faster than anticipated following attacks last week. Brent crude futures […]

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Dublin city councillors vote to cut property tax by 15%

Dublin city councillors vote to cut property tax by 15% Dublin city councillors have again voted to reduce the annual local property tax by 15% – the maximum amount allowable. The elected councillors refused to accept the advice of management who pointed out this will mean €12m less for public services at a time when […]

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