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Fran McNulty siting in the Behind the Story podcast studio with David Murphy and Brian O'Donovan

Behind the Story: The business year in review

Concerns around US tariffs dominated the first half of the year in 2025. While on the domestic front, the debate around working from home continued as many businesses insisted their employees return to the workplace.

Behind the Story • 10 hrs

Close-up of unrecognizable white man checking the price of ground beef at supermarket

4 factors that could determine if food prices jump again

Food prices are finishing the year as they started it ... rising steadily.

Business • 10 hrs

ALDI, Lidl, SuperValu and Centra cut their butter prices

Four retailers - SuperValu, Centra, ALDI Ireland Lidl Ireland - have announced a cut in the price of their own brand butter ranges.

Business • 5 hrs

102,000 tonnes of waste generated over festive period

Approximately 102,000 tonnes of packaging waste will be generated throughout the festive season, according to Repak.

Ireland • 10 hrs

A Bulgarian one Euro currency coin held between a person's thumb and index finger

Bulgaria prepares for the euro amid scepticism

Bulgarian banks, businesses and shoppers were preparing this week to say goodbye to the lev currency ahead ⁠of a move to adopt the euro on 1 January.

EU • 9 hrs

Nvidia has purchased Intel shares worth a total of $5 billion

Nvidia takes $5 billion stake in Intel under Sept deal

Nvidia has purchased Intel shares worth $5 billion, the American semiconductor firm said in a filing today, carrying out a transaction announced in September.

Business • 4 hrs

Stock markets are closely monitoring tech giants Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Nvidia, and startups like OpenAI, amid fears of a speculative bubble

The AI boom hits a crossroads in 2026

After three years of breakneck growth and soaring valuations, the AI industry enters 2026 with some of the euphoria giving way to tough questions.

Business • 9 hrs

Operating profits increase by 24% at Valeo Foods

Operating profits at the Dublin headquartered food producer behind well-known brands such as Jacob's, Rowse Honey, Kelkin and Odlums this year increased by 24% to €85.3m.

Business • 6 hrs

Revenue warned Donohoe about cut in VAT on apartments

The Revenue Commissioners warned a controversial cut in VAT on apartments could lead to fraudulent or inadvertent underpayments of tax by the construction sector.

Business • 9 hrs

Gold prices have doubled in the last two years

2025 in Review: Gold's biggest gain this year since 1979

Gold made its biggest jump since the 1979 oil crisis in 2025 - with prices doubling in the last two years - a performance which might previously have meant forecasts of a big correction.

Business • 9 hrs

Oil prices jump 2% as investors eye Ukraine talks

Oil prices rose by more than $1 today as investors weighed talks between the US and Ukrainian presidents on a possible deal to end the war in Ukraine against potential oil supply disruption in the Middle East.

Business • 4 hrs

Drayton House Holdings is involved in operating a hotel, a pub and hostel, as well as construction and investing activities

Profits jump 53% at Oliver St John Gogarty pub operator

Pre-tax profits at the hospitality group which operates the Oliver St John Gogarty pub in Dublin's Temple Bar this year increased by 53% to €5.04m.

Business • 5 hrs

2025 in Review - The 'tipping point' for cyber attacks

Cyber attacks came to prominence in 2025 with a handful of major incidents that cost big British businesses dearly.

Business • 9 hrs

SoftBank to buy DigitalBridge in $4 billion deal

SoftBank Group will acquire digital infrastructure investor DigitalBridge Group in a deal valued at $4 billion, the companies said today, as the Japanese investment firm looks to deepen its AI-related portfolio.

Business • 6 hrs

Lululemon founder launches proxy fight for board shakeup

Lululemon Athletica's founder Chip Wilson said today he had launched a proxy fight by nominating three independent directors to the company's board, days after the apparel maker announced the exit of CEO Calvin McDonald.

Business • 5 hrs

Hyundai not in a position to buy back Russian car factory

South Korean automaker Hyundai is not in a position to repurchase its former manufacturing plant in Russia due to the continuing war in Ukraine, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, as a buyback option appears set to expire next month.

Business • 9 hrs

China is to lower the import ‍duties on resource-based commodities such as recycled black powder for lithium-ion batteries

China to lower import tariffs on some products from 2026

China has today announced tariff adjustments ⁠for some products beginning next year, including lowering the import ‍duties on resource-based commodities such as recycled black powder for lithium-ion batteries.

Business • 10 hrs

The S&P 500 on Wall Street posted a record close before the Christmas break and was about 1% from reaching the 7,000 level for the first time

S&P 500 eyes 7,000 mark as investors look for upbeat end

Investors are looking for the US stock market to end 2025 on a high note this week, with equities at record peaks and nearing further bullish milestones to close out another strong year.

Business • 9 hrs

Bulgaria adopts euro amid fear and uncertainty

Bulgaria will become the 21st country to adopt the euro, but some believe the move could bring higher prices and add to instability in the European Union's poorest country.

World • 28 Dec

SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Roomba vacuums by iRobot are displayed at Best Buy store on January 19, 2024 in San Rafael, California. The European Commission, the EU’s antitrust watchdog, plans to block Amazon's acquisition of Roomba vacuum maker i

Bricked up: Could your smart home device stop working?

Santa might have bought you that smart device you've been wanting all year, but there's no guarantee it will last you all that long, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 28 Dec

An aerial photo of Fraser Partners', Rivenwood Three development in Newtownards

NI house builders warn of 'bleak' future

House builders in Northern Ireland are facing a "very bleak" future, with the region's crumbling wastewater network forcing some to relocate and others to plan winding up, an industry body has warned.

Business • 28 Dec

Asian businesswoman analyzing financial stock trading data on smartphone with virtual reality artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Stock exchange market trading board in background. Innovative mobile trading concept. Smart banking with technology

2025 in Review: The highs and lows of the 'Magnificent 7'

Big Tech companies raced to dominate AI in 2025 as the booming technology continued to captivate Wall Street.

Business • 28 Dec

Shoppers seeking bargains at Brown Thomas in Dublin

'Steady' stream of shoppers for post-Christmas sales

Retailers in Dublin city centre have said there has been a "steady" stream of shoppers for the post-Christmas sales.

Business • 26 Dec

EU fishing quotas cause concern among coastal communities

The EU fishing quota agreement in Brussels before Christmas brought little festive cheer to coastal communities.

2025 in Review • 28 Dec

Close-up of two smartphones showing payment sent and payment received screens during a mobile transaction, with desserts and drinks in the background at a cafe.

2026: The year Irish banks take on rival Revolut

With Zippay on the way, 2026 is already shaping up to be an interesting year for Irish banking.

Business • 26 Dec