Activity in the construction sector expanded for the first time this year in May, according to Ulster Bank’s latest Purchasing Managers’ Index. The index, which is designed to track changes in overall construction activity on a scale of 1 to 100, passed the 50 no-change mark for the first time since the imposition of restrictions […]
Read MoreLack of online services saw 1 in 3 closing credit union accounts – survey
Around a third of people surveyed by a company that provides technical expertise to the credit unions sector said they had closed their credit union accounts because of a lack of online services. The research was carried out on behalf Wellington IT – described as the tech partner for the credit union sector. It found […]
Read MoreIs now a good time to lock into a 20-year mortgage?
Appearing before an Oireachtas Committee at the end of 2016, the then chief executive of Bank of Ireland more or less admitted that the bank was deliberately keeping its variable mortgage interest rate elevated. Richie Boucher was making a big push at the time to get people to opt for one of the bank’s fixed […]
Read MoreIreland to make strong case for tax competition, says Donohoe
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has said that Ireland will be vigourously making the case for tax competition and for maintaining a corporate tax rate of 12.5%. In negotiations on the issue, Minister Donohoe said he is confident that Ireland will continue to be a really attractive place to do business. Yesterday, Mr Donohoe said that […]
Read MoreNAMA increases projected lifetime surplus to €4.25 billion from €4 billion
The National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) now expects to provide an overall surplus to the Exchequer over its lifetime of €4.25 billion, up from the previous estimate of €4 billion. The body will provide a further payment to the exchequer of €300m this month and it hopes to make an additional contribution of €500m during […]
Read MoreECB lifts euro zone growth and inflation projections
The European Central Bank has raised its growth and inflation projections for this year and next as the euro zone economy started to roar back to life after over a year of restrictions to curb the coronavirus pandemic. ECB President Christine Lagarde also said the ECB saw risks to growth as “broadly balanced”, a shift […]
Read MoreCentral Bank’s Rowland says onus on firms to set the right standards
The Central Bank’s Director General, Financial Conduct, has said that increasing evidence in the financial services sector shows that ineffective culture is bad for business – both for a firm itself and the consumers or investors it serves. Derville Rowland was speaking at an Institute of Directors webinar today. Ms Rowland said that firms are […]
Read MoreNTMA raises €1.25 billion in bond auction
The National Treasury Management Agency has raised €1.25 billion this morning in an auction of Irish bonds. Today’s auction brings the total raised by the NTMA so far this year to €13.25 billion. The amounts raised include €600m on the existing 1.1% Treasury Bond 2029 at a negative yield of -0.094%. €325m was raised on […]
Read MoreSupply shortage, rising costs could impact housing affordability – BPFI
A combination of lack of housing supply and rising construction costs could exacerbate property affordability issues in the years ahead, according to the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland. In its latest Housing Market Monitor, the BPFI says while supply is coming back on stream in the aftermath of the pandemic, it will now likely be […]
Read MoreToo early to reconsider 2m rule in workplaces – McGrath
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath has said the Government would like to see people return to the workplace as soon as possible, but for now it is about holding on to the gains already made. Speaking on his way into Cabinet this morning, he said it is too early to say if […]
Read More