RTE Business

A businessman has denied an allegation that he got into a "fit of temper" with an employee and told her "you're fired" after the worker copied the firm's auditor on an email complaining that her pay had come late for the third month in a row.

Oil prices dipped in early trade today, extending losses amid uncertainty over how US President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs and energy policies would impact global economic growth and energy demand.

Norway's central bank held its policy interest rate unchanged at a 17-year high of 4.5% today, as unanimously expected by analysts in a Reuters poll, and maintained plans to start cutting borrowing costs in March.

US President Donald Trump's escalating pressure on the private sector to ditch diversity programmes has left some in Davos searching for new words to describe workplace practices they say are essential to their businesses.

Insurance broker Arachas has agreed a deal to buy Insight Insurance Brokers Limited (IIB), a brokerage operating from the Cork Airport Business Park, for an undisclosed sum.

Irish-founded tech firm Workhuman, which provides cloud-based HR services, has announced today two leadership appointments in Ireland - Jim O'Dea as General Manager for Ireland and Daniel Ryan as Vice President of Global Operations.

Commerzbank has defined UniCredit's approach for a potential tie-up as "hostile", and said there had been no discussion of it with the Italian bank in the past two years, despite UniCredit CEO Andrea Orcel saying there had.

Sportswear brand Puma has announced a cost-cutting programme after reporting 2024 net profit below the prior year's level, missing its expectations.

Associated British Foods has downgraded the annual sales guidance for its Penneys/Primark budget clothing business after disappointing results in the Christmas quarter in its main UK and Ireland market.

Aer Lingus-owner IAG is likely to be a frontrunner to buy a stake in Portuguese carrier TAP, valued at about $1 billion, bankers and analysts said, marking the next phase in consolidation of the European market.

US President Donald Trump will address global business and political leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos by video link.

Billionaire Michael Bloomberg said today that his foundation will step in to fund the UN climate change body after President Donald Trump declared the US would withdraw from the Paris Agreement for the second time.

Johnson & Johnson, fresh off a $14.6 billion deal to buy neurological drugmaker Intra-Cellular, reported fourth-quarter revenues and profit above Wall Street estimates today, driven by strong sales of its cancer treatments.

Oil prices held steady today, with traders closely watching President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs and the potential impact of the national energy emergency he declared on his first day in office.

Clare County Council has given the green light to US President Donald Trump's golf resort at Doonbeg for new upgrade works.

Irish-headquartered education technology company Prodigy Learning, and Minecraft Education have announced the launch of a new artificial intelligence (AI) skills course for students.

Ryanair said today it would remove an aircraft from Rome Fiumicino and curb expansion at the Italian capital's second airport due to rising costs and flight restrictions, as the city braces for an influx of additional tourists in a Jubilee year.

AIB has announced it will reduce rates by 0.25% on two of its Fixed Term savings products after the European Central Bank decreased rates four times over the last year.

The European Union signalled its readiness to engage and negotiate with US President Donald Trump, warning of the need to avoid a trade conflict that would hurt both sides and the global economy.

Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino responded "be serious, be serious" today when asked in Davos whether he was concerned the US would invade after President Donald Trump said he would take back the Panama Canal.