RTE Business

London's blue-chip FTSE 100 index hit a record high this morning, following last week's sharp selloff, as fears of the Middle East crisis escalating eased and investors looked ahead to top US earnings later in the week.

British housebuilder Taylor Wimpey has posted a rise in its sales rate during the key spring selling season and reiterated its annual outlook, even as affordability concerns and economic woes dent near-term recovery hopes in the sector.

French automaker Renault has today posted a 1.8% rise in first-quarter revenue, with high interest rates lifting sales at its financing arm, and reiterated its profit margin and cash flow forecast for 2024 as it pushes ahead with cost cuts.

Finnair has today swung to a bigger-than-expected first-quarter comparable operating loss and cut its full-year revenue outlook after weeks of strikes across Finland grounded flights and disrupted the national carrier's operations.

Swiss drugmaker Novartis has today raised its full-year guidance after reporting better-than-expected first-quarter results.

JD Sports Fashion has proposed to buy American athletic fashion retailer Hibbett for about $1.08 billion, the companies said today, as Britain's biggest sportswear retailer looks to expand across the southeastern US.

Penneys/Primark owner Associated British Foods has today forecast "significant growth" in full-year profit after reporting a 39% jump in the first half that was driven by an improved performance at its Primark fashion retail stores.

Just a third of businesses across the country that are expected to apply for the Government scheme designed to help firms with rising costs have done so.

The most expensive average price for farmland in the country last year was in Co Waterford, where the best quality land cost €20,000 per acre, a new report has shown.

The European Parliament is expected to approve new measures to ban the sale, import and export of goods made using forced labour.

The European Parliament is expected to approve new measures to ban the sale, import and export of goods made using forced labour.

The European Court of Auditors has said that electric car prices would need to halve to ensure they are adopted by the mass market.

The High Court has approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement allowing a Co Meath couple to write off over €2.65m of debt owed to mainly financial funds.

Despite a major national rollout of smart meters, only 11% of electricity customers are on smart tariffs. Prime Time explores the reasons why people have been reluctant to change their payment arrangements.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) will host a European trade union conference on tackling racism this week.

The commercial semi-State agency charged with keeping our skies safe is objecting to plans for a new 50MW wind farm in south east Clare.

A Dutch academic hired during the Covid-19 pandemic and then fired after telling University College Cork that he was having trouble moving to Ireland to teach in person because of the housing crisis has won €300,000 for unfair dismissal.

Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, has announced €500,000 in grants to help improve access to artificial intelligence (AI) in Ireland.

European Central Bank officials are sticking to plans to cut interest rates multiple times this year, even as higher US inflation delays a pivot to looser policy by the US Federal Reserve and tensions in the Middle East keep oil prices high.

Dublin-based family-owned Milish Bakery has secured a multi-million deal with retailer Marks & Spencer to supply its muffins to 640 M&S stores throughout the UK and Ireland.