News was abuzz yesterday about the Bank of Ireland’s stock taking a knock, much to the surprise of onlookers considering its strong trading report, according to Joe Brennan. There has been growing anxiety among investors regarding the predicted effect of the European Central Bank’s likely lowering of interest rates on the bank’s net interest income in the coming year. This is coupled with prospective expenses arising from an ongoing regulatory probe into the car finance sector in the UK.
When it comes to interest rates, recent figures indicate that inflation, excluding variables such as construction costs and mortgage payments, is almost non-existent in Ireland. This fuels assumptions of an impending ECB rate cut in December.
In our continuous analysis of Derek Quinlan’s bankruptcy, we disclose sections of a conversation he had with a UK bankruptcy trustee; Quinlan was against the publicisation of these details.
Meanwhile, Rachel Reeves made history as the first female to present a budget in Britain. Her ambitious fiscal policy entailing major spending on sectors like health, transport and education, is to be funded by enhanced borrowing and the introduction of £40 billion in new taxes, says Mark Paul. Businesses, however, express their dissatisfaction with the plan, fearing escalating expenses, as per Barry O’Halloran’s assessment.
Elsewhere, the company managing the prestigious five-star Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin has seen a significant increase in losses after tax last year, as Covid relief schemes dwindled and interest payments on parent company loans rose. Ian Curran provides a detailed report.
In Belgium, energy minister Tinne Van der Straeten has implored Europe to diversify and not depend solely on Chinese technologies for building renewable energy infrastructure throughout the Continent. He warns of re-emerging energy dependence similar to EU’s reliance on Russia for oil and gas, which catalysed turmoil following Ukraine’s invasion. Jack Power provides further information.
In other news, former rugby star Brendan Mullin, being tried on 15 charges in Dublin, including a claim of embezzling over €570,000 from Bank of Ireland, defended himself stating that he facilitated the repayment of €500,000 to the bank in 2015 to clear such grave accusations.
Finally, a hotel company owned by entrepreneur Eamon Waters has proposed a downsizing of its proposed city centre hotel in Dublin to secure planning approval on appeal, following its rejection by Dublin City Council due to strong opposition from the neighbouring Merrion Hotel, reports Gordon Deegan.
After Smurfit Westrock’s merger, it suffered a hit of approximately $500 million, resulting in a $150 million loss in the first quarter post-merger. However, CEO Tony Smurfit believes the company’s performance sets a resilient basis for future growth, as reported by Joe Brennan.
In other news, owner of Woodie’s DIY and Chadwicks, the Grafton Group, plans on investing up to €132 million on Spanish air conditioning and heat products distributor, Salvador Escoda. This was announced along with a trading statement that indicated stability and growth in Ireland’s market, while paperwork in Britain and Finland aren’t doing as well.
Brooke Masters, in her article, takes a deep dive into the collapse of the so-called “revolutionary” credit card by Apple, developed in alliance with Goldman Sachs. She highlights the inherent challenges of attempting to reinvent the retail banking landscape drawing lessons from this venture.
In the tech segment, Ciara O’Brien discusses the impact of overflowing photos and videos on phone performance and finances. She suggests several tips to clear the clutter and optimise your phone.
Lastly, is the construction sector in Ireland prepared for massive disruption akin to Ryanair? Giving his professional insights on this is Paul Mitchell, who heads the construction consultancy Mitchell McDermott. He partners with Ciaran Hancock on this discussion.