Net zero in the finance sector, getting tax back and corporate loyalty

Organisations within the Irish financial services sector are strongly committed to achieving "net zero" carbon emissions, with 79 per cent planning to achieve that target, according to a Compliance Institute survey – though one in five "have no plans" to do so. Kevin O'Sullivan reports.

Newry-based StatSports has scored another multi-million dollar deal with a leading sporting organisation in the US, writes Charlie Taylor. The sports tech company, which previously struck up a landmark partnership with the US Soccer Federation, has now agreed a new deal with US Youth Soccer, one of the largest sporting organisations in the world for young people, with nearly three million players.

In his weekly column Eoin Burke-Kennedy outlines what a turbulent economic year has in store for us.

The strong recovery of the Irish economy and an overhang of deals, delayed from the first year of the pandemic, drove mergers and acquisitionsactivity last year to levels not seen since the height of the Celtic Tiger, according to a new report. Mark Paul reports.

Stocktake: Bear market checklist is not flashing red

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Investors prepare for turbulence in US corporate bond market

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European shares boosted by strong earnings and reports of M&A

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Global stocks stage modest rebound as investors put aside inflation fears

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Dominic Coyle, in his personal finance Q&A, advises a reader on the thorny subject of capital gains tax when selling a property.

Spending in bars more than trebled on the day Covid restrictions were eased but the biggest increase in expenditure by consumers last month was on travel, new figures show. Charlie Taylor has the details.

Workers taking part in workplace "financial wellbeing" assessments are receiving average tax refunds of €1,250, according to data from Taxback.com, writes Dominic Coyle. The financial adviser, which specialises in tax refunds, started working with employers last year on an "employee financial wellbeing" programme in response to requests from businesses to speak to their employees about how to manage their tax affairs.

Emma Jacobs warns that hybrid working has the potential to weaken the bonds of corporate loyalty.

In our Opinion slot, Danny McCoy, chief executive of Ibec, argues that wage supports are a vital as the economy recovers.

On our Inside Business podcast Ciarán Hancock talks to Charlie Taylor and Joe Brennan about two big stories: online bank Revolut's decision not to use an Irish license to get into the lending business here, and Irish startup Wayflyer joining the ranks of home-grown firms valued at €1 billion, or "unicorns".

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