Finfacts Ireland Business & Finance Portal

Employment in Irish industry fell 21,300 in 12 months to Q2 2009 despite rise in pharmaceutical production; Private sector unit labor costs also dipped

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:54:30 GMT

Employment in Irish industry fell by 21,300 from 232,600 to 211,300 employees between Q2 2008 and Q2 2009, despite the rise on pharmaceutical production in the US-owned sector. NCB Stockbrokers says there is evidence in the long-awaited Q2 earnings data (albeit covering just 18% of the private sector workforce) to suggest that the private sector is reducing labour costs, albeit in a different way than is commonly presumed.

Overseas visits to Ireland for September 2009 return to September 2004 levels

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:11:30 GMT

In September 2009, the number of overseas trips to Ireland fell by 13.9% to 594,600 from twelve months earlier and this was virtually the same as the number of trips to Ireland in September 2004 (596,000), according to the CSO.

Men who drink alcohol every day can reduce the risk of a heart attack according to 41,438 person study

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:26:52 GMT

Men who drink alcohol every day can reduce the risk of a heart attack by almost an average of one-third according to a long-term study among Spanish men published in a British medical journal, on Thursday.

Markets News Friday; Japan warns of deflation - central bank more upbeat; One in 10 US homeowners with mortgages missing payments in Q3 2009

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:15:44 GMT

Markets news on stocks, currencies and commodities; Both Japan's Deputy Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii said today that the economy was in deflation, leading to concerns that the recovery may slide into reverse. Meanwhile, almost one in 10 US homeowners with mortgages was delinquent, with at least one payment behind in the Q3 of 2009, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Thursday -- that's about five million households.

Friday Newspaper Review - Irish Business News and International Stories - - November 20, 2009

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:18:23 GMT

Principal news stories from the Irish Independent, Irish Times, Irish Examiner, Financial Times and New York Times.

Global air transport: The worst is over

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:37:56 GMT

In September 2009, global air traffic volume in the passenger segment was up 0.3% from the pre-year figure. This was the first increase in air traffic since August 2008 - - the month before the crash of US investment Bank, Lehman Brothers.

Why is "Irish reform" an oxymoron?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:50:18 GMT

There is surely evidence a-plenty that the term "Irish reform," is an oxymoron and the grim change in economic circumstances has had little impact.

Managing projects effectively is difficult even for experts says new report

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:23:36 GMT

Companies often struggle to manage projects well, but those that do are likely to reap significant financial rewards. These are the main findings in a new study by the Economist Intelligence Unit and sponsored by Oracle, Closing the Gap: The link between project management excellence and long-term success.

Asia’s rising “clean technology tigers” - - China, Japan, and South Korea - - to overtake United States

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:52:44 GMT

Asia’s rising “clean technology tigers” - - China, Japan, and South Korea - - have already passed the United States in the production of virtually all clean energy technologies and will invest a total of $509bn in the sector over the five years to 2013, compared with $172bn in the US.

Markets News Afternoon: US Leading Index rises in October; Shares slide in Europe and US

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:24:30 GMT

Markets news on stocks, currencies and oil; The US Leading Index, which comprises a number of key indicators, increased 0.3% in October, following a 1.0% gain in September, and a 0.4% rise in August.

Irish Income/Living Conditions 2008: State benefits accounted for more than 22% of household income; More than 20% of households were in arrears on payments

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:51:12 GMT

The average Irish disposable household income increased by 2.2% in 2008 while social welfare and other State benefits accounted for more than 22% of household income, according to the CSO's Survey on Income and Living Conditions 2008. For the 10% of households in the lowest income bracket, State benefits accounted for 88% of the gross household income while they accounted for just seven per cent of income for the 10% of households with the highest earnings. The survey also found that more than 20% of households were in arrears on payments such as bank accounts, mortgages, rent, credit cards and utility bills. Almost eight per cent of households had arrears of two or more types.

Statistical Yearbook of Ireland 2009: Population, labour force, education, crime, the economy, agriculture, industry, services and much more

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:45:31 GMT

The Statistical Yearbook of Ireland 2009 has been published today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The Yearbook presents a comprehensive picture of Ireland today. It provides detailed information, tables and graphs across a wide range of topics. These include the population, labour force, education, crime, the economy, agriculture, industry, services, prices, housing, knowledge economy and the environment.

Economic recovery spreading across OECD countries too timid to halt rise in unemployment

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:56:22 GMT

The economic recovery now spreading across OECD countries is still too timid to halt the continuing rise in unemployment, according to the OECD’s latest Economic Outlook.

Wall Street profits in 2009 set to beat record at height of credit bubble with help of near zero interest rates

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:24:23 GMT

Wall Street profits in 2009 are on track to beat the record set three years ago, at the height of the credit bubble, with help of the Federal Reserve's near zero interest rates.

Irish new private cars licensed fell 40.9% in month of October 2009

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:22:10 GMT

There were 1,596 new private cars licensed in October 2009, compared with 2,699 in October 2008, a fall of 40.9%.

Kerry reports fall in revenues in 2009

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:02:16 GMT

Kerry, the Irish global ingredients and foods group, in an Interim Management Statement trading update for the ten months to 31 October 2009, issued this afternoon, said overall reported revenues were 6% below the same period of 2008 due to the adverse impact of currency changes, lower pricing and elimination of non-core activities.

Markets News Thursday: Shares fall in Europe and Asia

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:49:38 GMT

Markets news on stocks, currencies and commodities.

FBD Holdings to post operating profits in both underwriting and non-underwriting businesses in 2009

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:30:21 GMT

FBD Holdings plc, the general Irish insurer, today issued an Interim Management Statement trading update covering the period from 1 July 2009 to date and said it expects to deliver operating profits in both its underwriting and non-underwriting businesses in 2009. The insurer said it is "confident that it is well positioned to deliver profitable growth and superior returns to shareholders going forward."

A dialogue on the Chinese renminbi

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:05:54 GMT

Morgan Stanley economists present a dialogue on the Chinese renminbi (people's currency in Mandarin; yuan is unit in Mandarin), highlighting the pros and cons of renminbi de-peg and appreciation against the US dollar, in the format of a hypothetical debate between a policy advisor who defends the status quo and a fund manager who argues that the current arrangement is unsustainable.

Thursday Newspaper Review - Irish Business News and International Stories - - November 19, 2009

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:26:26 GMT

Principal news stories from the Irish Independent, Irish Times, Irish Examiner, Financial Times and New York Times.