Commodities best investment in first quarter but copper disappoints
WITH the first quarter of 2014 over, it’s time to take stock.
Here in Ireland, soaring property prices, returns on commercial rents and a buoyant stock exchange are making Ireland an attractive location for investors.
Another sign that the country’s financial woes are abating is in the yield on Ireland’s 10-year government bonds, which has fallen from 3.545pc on January 1 to 3.08pc or half the Greek equivalent.
While residential …
State raises €26m from pension withdrawals
THE Government has raised €26m in nine months from changes to the pension rules which allow people to withdraw their pensions early – but be taxed heavily for it.
Finance Minister Michael Noonan told the Dail that the rule, which experts called “mean-spirited” when it was introduced in the 2013 Budget, earned €25.8m for the State in tax revenues between April and December last year.
The rule in question allows …
Credit unions to get own debit cards
Credit unions are lining up to take on the banks, with large numbers now set to provide electronic payment options to members.
And the locally owned lenders are also about to apply to the Central Bank for approval to offer debit cards.
The combination of electronic payments and the ability to offer debit cards will see credit unions putting it up to the banks by offering an alternative to banks’ …
Almost 11,000 new start-ups recorded in Q1 of 2014
A total of 10,741 new companies have been established in the first quarter of 2014, up 6pc on the corresponding period last year, according to credit and business risk analyst Vision-net.
It said that the number of new companies registered in the construction industry rose 29pc in the quarter, while the number of insolvencies in that sector fell 25pc.
The total number of company insolvencies fell 23pc year-on-year in the …
IDA aims to lure 80 new firms here this year
The IDA expects to attract 80 new multinational firms to Ireland this year and is targeting the creation of 6,000 jobs, according to the outgoing head of the agency, Barry O’Leary
Mr O’Leary, who is due to step down from the organisation in the coming months, also said that the IDA has an additional target of 80 “new investments” from multinational firms already here. He said that the agency will …