Budget fallout, Powerscourt Group nears sale and is there any smart money?

The Government announced a slew of one-off measures aimed at easing the cost of living crisis in Budget 2024, with energy credits, rent relief and tax relief for mortgage holders among the goodies this time around. As the dust settles from Budget 2024, you can find all our coverage here.

Powerscourt Group, the public relations firm led by former journalist Rory Godson, is nearing a deal to be sold to a US communications firm. Ian Curran has the story.

Away from the budget the IMF has urged central banks to keep their foot on gas as they seek to control inflation, in its latest world economic outlook. It will take until 2025 for central banks to get inflation back down to the key 2 per cent level in “most cases,” the fund warned.

The High Court can strike down a 2018 sectoral employment order over an “invalid” pension scheme requirement for plumbing and heating contractors. Ellen O’Riordan reports.

Sleep and rest are not the same and failure to address both can increase risk of burnout

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Extend EV grant to second-hand purchases, says PwC

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Card data suggests it’s not all doom and gloom in the hospitality sector

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Latest euro zone inflation figures suggest ECB will move slowly on rates

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Insulation specialist Kingspan has made a €228.8 million offer for Nordic Waterproofing, a month after it said it planned to buy the remaining shares in the company that it did not already own. Ciara O’Brien reports.

Property prices in Northern Ireland have risen by 5.7 per cent in the past year as the average cost of an existing home is now £201,800 (€233,499). Ellen O’Regan reports.

In his column, Rockefeller International chairman Ruchir Sharma asks a question which does not always have an obvious answer in the markets: Is there such a thing as smart money?

Ellen also reports that Cairn Homes has announced that its chief financial officer, Shane Doherty, is to step down, and is leaving his position with the Irish home builder next year.

Oil and gas exploration company San Leon has received a $187 million (€176 million) investment by Tri Ri Asset Management (TRAM) that will back the exploration company’s investments in its operations in Nigeria. Ciara has the details.

One of the biggest internet and TV service providers, Virgin Media, should not be allowed to disincentivize customers from switching to a competitor with legal, technical and practical obstacles, the High Court has heard.

In Commercial Property, Ronald Quinlan reports that Smyths Toys is set to open a new distribution centre in Dundalk, while the former Sachs Hotel in Dublin 4 is on the market for €12.5 million.

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