Today's other stories in brief
Passenger numbers at Dublin airport increase by 7%
More than 1.6 million passengers passed through Dublin airport in February, a 7 per cent increase on the same month in 2007.
The leap year day on February 29th contributed an extra 60,000 passengers to that figure, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) said yesterday.
The DAA said more than 750 passengers travelled on routes to and from continental Europe, a year-on-year rise of 7 per cent. UK traffic grew by more than 3 per cent to 670,000 passengers.
The numbers travelling on domestic routes rose by 10 per cent to more than 72,000 while passenger volumes to and from North America grew by 33 per cent to 90,000.
Traffic to the Middle-East, northern Africa and South Africa increased by 20 per cent, with more than 22,000 passengers travelling to those destinations.
Digicel wins licence in Vanatu
Digicel, Denis O'Brien's Pacific-region mobile company, has won a mobile licence in Vanatu.
Digicel is planning an investment of $35 million (€22.38 million) in Vanatu, which has a mobile penetration rate of 16 per cent.
Kerviel released by Paris court
Jérome Kerviel, blamed by Société Générale for its record €4.9 billion trading loss, was freed from prison yesterday and ordered to remain in the Paris region while the case is investigated.
The decision by three judges at the Paris appeals court is "an appropriate control", his lawyer, Elisabeth Meyer, said. Mr Kerviel (31) asked the court at a March 14th hearing to free him, saying he posed no threat to the investigation. He was jailed on February 8th to prevent him from fleeing, tampering with evidence or contacting possible accomplices.
Paris prosecutors said he must have had help evading bank controls to amass €50 billion in unauthorised positions. - (Bloomberg)
Cryptologic revenues increase to $20.4m
Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2007 at gambling software developer Cryptologic were up 7 per cent at $20.4 million, the Irish-based company said yesterday.
Net earnings for the period grew 153 per cent to $4 million, while earnings per share trebled to 36 cent. Revenues and earnings were ahead of guidance given by the company during the period.
The company's figures showed that full-year sales were down 29 per cent at $73.7 million. Last year's net earnings fell 78 per cent to $5.5 million.
Cryptologic is listed in Toronto, Canada and has its headquarters in Dublin.
Yahoo forecasts 19% sales growth
Yahoo, owner of the most-visited US website, said yesterday that sales will climb at least 19 per cent in each of the next two years, justifying its refusal of a $44.6 billion takeover offer from Microsoft.
The stock climbed the most since Microsoft's $31 a share bid on February 1st after Yahoo said sales growth goals for 2009 and 2010 are higher than analysts had estimated.
That deserves "a significant acquisition premium" offer, Yahoo said. Yahoo pointed to operations in Asia, its position in the web search business and the potential cost savings of the deal to show it's worth more. Chief executive Jerry Yang has fought to persuade investors he made the right call as his stock trades at a widening discount to Microsoft's offer.
Circle Oil starts drilling in Egypt
Circle Oil has started to drill at its Al-Amir SE-1 well in Egypt. The drilling began later than expected because of the late delivery of a rig. Circle has a 40 per cent working interest in the project.
Apple considers free music plan
Apple is in discussions with the big music companies about a radical new business model that would give customers free access to its entire iTunes music library in exchange for paying a premium for its iPod and iPhone devices.
The "all you can eat" model, a replica of Nokia's "comes with music" deal with Universal Music last December, could provide the struggling recorded music industry with a much-needed fillip, and drive demand for a new generation of Apple's hardware. - (Financial Times service)
