The March U.S. non-farm payrolls showed 192,000 jobs were added in March in major test of the argument that the economic weakness of January and February was due to bad weather and the recovery of the world’s biggest economy was still on track.

Median forecasts had been for a rise of 200,000 in payrolls, though dealers in the run up to the numbers had been speculating about a number nearer …

A solid pace of US jobs growth pushed up Wall Street stocks futures and the dollar on Friday, adding to pressure on the euro from signs that the European Central Bank (ECB) is warming to the once-taboo idea of aggressive asset buying.

The Housing Agency, a government advisory body, has projected the level of housing needed across the Republic in the next five years and the results are stark.

A …

NAMA had agreed the sale of its entire holding of Northern Ireland property loans.

US investor Cerberus Capital Management will buy the assets, which have a face value of £4.5bn (€5.4bn).

It is the biggest ever sale by state owned NAMA.

The price agreed has not been revealed.

The portfolio dubbed Project Eagle consists of loans made to Northern Ireland-based debtors but is secured by assets in Northern Ireland, the …

The Insolvency Service of Ireland has reported an increase in the number of bankruptcies but lower levels of deals involving mortgage debt.

Statistics released today that while there has been a rise in the number of bankruptcies, with 66 cases approved in the past three months, the number of deals involving mortgage debt was four.

Lorcan O’Connor, director of the Insolvency Service of Ireland, however, added there are more coming …

OPTIMISM in services companies is at its second-highest level since March 2005 while the sector has experienced growth for the 20th month in a row.

The Investec Purchasing Managers’ Index of activity grew to 60.7 in March from 57.5 in February – any figure above 50 signals growth.

The services sector covers a range of businesses from hotels to the banking sector.