EURO LIFT FOR OIL PRICES - Oil prices have been going up as positive economic data from the euro zone raises hopes of a recovery in energy demand. US crude rose 86 cents to $71.38 a barrel overnight, while Brent North Sea crude advanced 79 cents to $74.27.
That was because there was better than expected growth data from the euro zone and news that Germany and France emerged from recession in the second three months of the year.
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BID TO WAIVE BANK PAY LIMIT? A Canadian bank is sniffing around AIB - this could be either for stakebuilding, or buying out AIB's 24% shareholding in the American bank M&T, as Canadian banks have been expanding into the US retail banking space.
There have also been reports of talks with the Department of Finance about waiving the €500,000 pay limit at AIB for its new chief executive.
There are also reports that Royal Bank of Scotland, which is 70% owned by the British taxpayer, has offered a 'golden hello' worth more than £7m to hire star banker Antonio Polverino.
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MARKETS AND CURRENCIES - On the markets - the Nikkei is up almost 1%, the Hang Seng is down almost 1% and the euro is trading at $1.4670 and 86.15p sterling.
