News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines

Boris Johnson pictured leaving the Covid Inquiry in London this week

Johnson's Covid apology fails to calm families' anger

There are obviously some things that still rankle Boris Johnson about how his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic is viewed, writes London Correspondent John Kilraine.

UK • 09 Dec 23

Lloyds also saw a higher ratio of likely fraud with some 3.6% of its £8.5 billion of bounce back loans categorised as under suspicion

Lloyds racks up £300m of likely scam Covid loans

Lloyds Banking Group has been hit by more than £300m of suspected fraud linked to Covid-19 pandemic-era recovery loans for small businesses, the highest among big bank peers, according to government data.

Business • 07 Sep 22

Some investors think Friday's slump in oil prices on concern about the Omicron coronavirus variant as overdone

Oil rebounds to $76 after Omicron-related drop overdone

Oil rebounded by almost 5% today to $76 a barrel as some investors viewed Friday's slump in oil and financial markets on concern about the Omicron coronavirus variant as overdone.

Business • 29 Nov 21

The UK's departure from the European Union effectively closed London off from its biggest financial services customer

London takes aim at New York with 5 year financial plan

Britain needs to ease taxes on banks and make it easier to hire staff from abroad, its financial and professional services lobby said in a blueprint to help London unseat New York as the world's top international financial centre within five years.

Business • 07 Sep 21

Japan, the world's third-largest economy is showing signs of gradually overcoming last year's pandemic hit

Japan upgrades Q1 GDP on smaller hit to domestic demand

Japan's economy shrank less than initially reported in the first quarter on smaller cuts to plant and equipment spending, but the coronavirus pandemic still dealt a huge blow to overall demand.

Business • 08 Jun 21

S&P Global predicts that the underlying domestic economy - based on modified gross national income - will expand by 4% this year

Irish banks facing structural headwinds - S&P Global

While the Covid-19 pandemic has hit the underlying domestic economy hard, a new report said the Government's "sizeable" fiscal response has shielded households and businesses from a temporary but severe liquidity shock.

Business • 03 Feb 21

New figures show that a General Government deficit of €19 billion is expected for 2020

General Government deficit of €19bn for 2020 expected

The Minister for Finance has said he believes the level of financial support provided in the Budget will be sufficient to cope with the ongoing effect of Covid-19.

Business • 05 Jan 21

Retail Excellence wants clarification on the Government's plans for the deferral of Christmas sales

Covid restrictions proportionate to challenges - Ibec

Business group Ibec said that the latest Covid restrictions, whilst devastating, were proportionate to the challenges which the country now faces.

Business • 22 Dec 20

UK retail sales volumes grew by 1.5% in September alone and are 4.7% higher than a year earlier, new figures show

UK retail sales growth beat expectations in September

UK retail sales beat expectations last month and grew for a fifth month in a row, capping a record quarter of growth that took total sales volumes to 5.5% above their level before the pandemic.

Business • 23 Oct 20

Ulster Bank's chief executive Jane Howard said there are challenging times ahead for the bank and the country

Ulster Bank sets aside €278m for potential loan losses

Ulster Bank has reported an operating loss of €276m for the six months to the end of June compared to an operating profit of €26m the same time last year.

Business • 31 Jul 20

IAG's chief executive Willie Walsh said he would not be extending his tenure at the airline group again

IAG to raise €2.75 billion in equity as Covid-19 bites

Aer Lingus and British Airways owner IAG plans to raise €2.75 billion from shareholders to repair the coronavirus-sized hole in its finances and brace for a more chaotic future.