Business News

Unemployment in January fell to 6.1pc, a small decrease on the 6.2pc recorded in December, and a more substantial decrease from the 7.4pc reported in January 2017. The seasonally adjusted number of persons unemployed was 143,700 this month, a decrease from 146,700 in December, and a decrease of 28,600 when compared to January 2017, according […]

Nearly half of workers can expect a pay rise this year as more and more employers plan to hike wages. That’s according to Bank of Ireland’s monthly Economic Pulse survey, which found firms in all sectors have lifted their expectations for business activity in January. The January data shows that 44pc of businesses are planning […]

Top tips for doing well at job interviews around the world have been published, ranging from knocking three times in Japan, not winking in Hong Kong and wearing a high-quality suit in Italy. Following up an interview with an email to thank managers for their time is suggested for the UK. Jobs site Glassdoor said […]

Gardaí have installed new IT software to help them deal more speedily with thousands of reports of suspicious financial transactions. The move is one of a series of measures taken in response to a review carried out by an international body of Ireland’s money laundering and counter-terrorist financing systems. It is already being hailed as […]

There is likely to be a “rebound” in the sale of non-performing loan (NPL) portfolios this year as Irish lenders continue to be put under pressure to resolve bad debts, according to ratings agency DBRS. It has also predicted that Irish banks are likely to increasingly turn to securitising under-performing loans themselves, given the current […]

THE ‘Celtic Phoenix’ economy is growing more strongly than expected – with wages rising and full employment on the horizon. The Central Bank says the pace of the recovery has “exceeded expectations” as it predicted an extra 89,000 people will be in work by the end of next year. This would bring the total number […]

Windows users can now see exactly how much of their personal data is being collected by Microsoft. As well as basic records, such as the device you use, the company gathers more detailed information, such as the apps you have installed and how and when you use them. The company says it uses this data […]

The vast majority of accountants are in favour of the auto-enrolment pension scheme the Government is planning to launch. Most private sector workers do not have an occupational pension. A survey by Chartered Accountants Ireland members found 96pc in favour of auto-enrolment. President of Chartered Accountants Ireland Shauna Greely said the picture emerging is grim. […]

Cerberus, the US distressed debt and private equity giant, has swooped on the stricken sub-prime lender Stepstone Mortgages in a near-€100m deal, according to sources. Dublin-based Stepstone, once a joint venture between the collapsed Wall Street Bank, Lehman Brothers, and IIB – an earlier manifestation of KBC bank – stopped issuing new loans in 2008 […]

Ireland needs to do more to attract experienced executives if it’s to maintain its position as a global leader in the aircraft-leasing sector, AerCap chief executive Aengus Kelly has warned. Speaking at the Euromoney Global Airfinance convention in Dublin yesterday, Mr Kelly said that personal tax rates continue to be an inhibitor to attracting talent. […]