World

European stock markets surge as US jobs growth beats forecasts 

European stock markets surged yesterday, buoyed by US jobs growth as well as advances by food and beverages, and resources stocks.

Lidl boss out to make a difference as he plots more new-look stores 

Open-plan offices, funky furniture, break-out area in the atrium, hipsters and an archaeological dig required to find anyone over the age of 40. You'd be forgiven for thinking it's some Silicon Docks...

ESB aims to be cheapest energy seller in Britain as it takes on UK 'Big Six' 

The ESB is billing itself as Britain's cheapest electricity and gas provider as it prepares to take on giant incumbents in the multibillion euro...

Fiat Chrysler chief mulls 'radioactive' car firm spin-offs 

If all company bosses were as articulate and provocative as Sergio Marchionne, business journalism would be a cinch. Jargon-laden and gnomic pronouncements aren't his style.

Rolls-Royce shares soar as aircraft profits beat predictions 

Rolls-Royce has beaten first-half profit forecasts by delivering 27pc more aircraft engines and higher maintenance revenue.

Oil and financials boost European shares 

European shares rose yesterday, looking to recover after two straight months of losses, with corporate earnings reports spurring brisk trading ahead of a what is typically a sleepy summer period for...

Boost for the City as Deutsche Bank signs 25-year lease 

Deutsche Bank has signed a 25-year lease for its new City headquarters despite warning that it may move staff and the "vast majority" of its assets to Frankfurt in light of Brexit.

Apple shares sail to record high on healthy iPhone sales 

Apple on Tuesday delivered surprisingly strong fiscal third-quarter earnings and signaled that its upcoming 10th-anniversary phone lineup is on schedule, driving the stock up 6pc to an all-time...

Growing success for Spain and Italy in EU fruit and veg market 

Italy, Spain and Poland are leading the way in the production of fruit and vegetables grown in the EU, according to the latest report from Eurostat.

World’s richest people: Vladimir Putin might be wealthier than Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos combined 

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates were metaphorically sparring for the title of world’s richest individual last week, but the...

Tobacco industry facing major challenge on foot of FDA move 

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will explore cutting the level of nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels, a radical step that would reshape the $130bn (€110bn) American tobacco...

Eurozone inflation under target as stimulus debate looms 

Inflation in the eurozone remained well below the European Central Bank's goal as policymakers prepare to discuss unwinding stimulus.

Banks, tobacco and telecoms drag European stock markets down 

Europe's stock markets were dragged lower yesterday, with the UK's FTSE-100 posting its first weekly loss since June after a late-session slump in tobacco stocks, falls among banking stocks and...

European stocks end July on back foot 

Weakness among tobacco stocks and some broker downgrades weighed on European shares, sending them lower on the final trading day of July as analysts dissected what was beginning to look...

Share watch: US drug giant Merck can rise above political rows 

Every now and then a given industry can become a political hot potato. It's often oil; indeed it was once mining in this country. However the industry that gets the most active political feathers...

Barclays sets aside another £700m for PPI claims as profits leap to £2.34bn 

Barclays has seen half-year profits surge, but said it would have to fork out an extra £700m (€782.3m) to meet compensation claims for mis-selling...

GlaxoSmithKline to sell more than 130 brands in massive cost-saving drive 

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) says it will offload more than 130 of its non-core brands, as it extends a major cost cutting programme...

Bank clients' personal and debt details are hacked 

Italy's biggest lender, UniCredit, said hackers accessed about 400,000 client bank accounts in Italy in one of the biggest breaches in Europe to date.

Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley wins legal battle over '£15m deal' struck in pub 

Newcastle United owner and Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley has won a High Court battle with an investment banker over a £15 million deal...

Bank of Ireland cleared to pay dividend 

Bank of Ireland received High Court approval yesterday for a capital reorganisation that clears the way for dividend payments.

Landmark 'Walkie Talkie' skyscraper building sold for record £1.3bn 

A Hong Kong firm has splashed out a record £1.3 billion to buy London's landmark "Walkie Talkie" skyscraper.

Rise in oil price above $50 helps to drive up markets 

Oil's rise back above $50 a barrel helped prod stock markets higher yesterday, while company results and economic data continued to soothe worries that the world economy may be ripe for a another...

Calls for exit from easy-money policy were 'premature', IMF warns 

The European Central Bank should maintain a "firmly accommodative" monetary policy for an "extended period", the International Monetary Fund said.

Michael Kors to buy luxury shoemaker Jimmy Choo for $1.2 billion 

US retailer Michael Kors has agreed to buy luxury shoemaker Jimmy Choo for $1.2bn (€1bn), snapping up a British brand launched in the east...

'Gin and tonic trend' boosts sales at Fever-Tree as drinks firm upgrades profits forecast 

Drinks firm Fever-Tree has upgraded its profits forecast after revenues fizzed up in the first half of the year.

Greece prepares for end of bailout era with comeback bond 

Greece sold debt to private investors for the first time in three years on Tuesday, a significant step towards gaining financial independence and exiting its third international bailout next year.

European banks struggle to navigate losses in shipping sector 

Dutch shipowner Vroon is finding talks with banks tough going as it tries to navigate a way out of a long slump in the shipping industry. But it is not an easy time for the lenders either.

General Motors profit beats Wall St estimates sending shares up over 1pc in pre-market trading 

General Motors reported a better-than-expected quarterly net profit from continuing operations despite falling revenue.

Share watch: When it comes to crunch, Kellogg's has a dilemma 

Bigger economies support thriving bodies of marketing analysts, who devote their every thinking moment to brands.

Over 2,500 products shrink but prices stay the same 

More than 2,500 consumer products have shrunk in size over the past five years despite being sold for the same price, official data shows.

Snap share slump weighs on new IPOs 

Underwhelming performances of Snap and Blue Apron since their high-profile market debuts, especially at a time when the US stock market is hitting record highs, is an indication that the IPO market will not be as robust as expected this year.

General Electric chief's departure marred by oil slump 

In his final days atop General Electric Co, Jeffrey Immelt still can't throw off oil's stink. In his farewell earnings report, the chief executive officer ended his 16-year tenure by telling Wall...

Over 2,500 products 'have shrunk' while prices stay the same 'but Brexit isn't to blame' 

Manufacturers have shrunk 2,529 products over the past five years while keeping prices the same, official data shows.

Gruppo Campari to sell Carolans and Irish Mist brands for €141.7m 

Italian drinks company Gruppo Campari has announced that it will sell the Carolans Irish cream and Irish Mist brands to Heaven Hill Brands for $165m (€141.7m).

Join Singapore dots for direct line to new Asian markets 

Occupying a landmass about the size of Co Louth, just one degree north of the equator, Singapore is known as the Red Dot. It teems with a population of over 5.5 million and has four official...

Tax probe is 'distracting' says IFG boss 

IFG chief executive John Cotter has said uncertainty over potential sanctions from the UK tax authorities is "distracting" from the company's performance.

Bank of America chooses Dublin for post-Brexit EU operations 

Bank of America has chosen Dublin as its preferred location for its post-Brexit EU entity, in a big-name win for the Government in its hope of attracting Brexit spoils from the City of London.

European shares slump as euro hits high and earnings disappoint 

European shares sank yesterday as the euro strengthened and company earnings disappointed at the end of a turbulent week.

Air France launches airline aimed at millennials 

Air France will this autumn commence flights with its new airline Joon, which it is aiming at millennials.