Business and Leadership - Economy

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01/04/12--04:04: A volatile year for Irish pension funds - Aon Hewitt (chan 1600122)

The Aon Hewitt Managed Fund Index, an indicator of the performance of the average Irish pension fund, fell by 2.45pc in 2011, affected by volatility in investor sentiment, particularly for the Eurozone area.


01/05/12--02:19: Eurozone's industrial new orders up 1.8pc in October (chan 1600122)

Industrial new orders in the euro area increased by 1.8pc between September and October 2011, having fallen by 7.8pc the previous month, new figures from Eurostat reveal.


01/05/12--03:13: Unemployment rate down slightly in December - CSO (chan 1600122)

The standardised unemployment rate fell slightly to 14.3pc in December 2011, down from 14.4pc in November and from 14.7pc in December 2010, according to new figures from the CSO.


01/05/12--04:29: ISME calls for immediate introduction of jobs initiative (chan 1600122)

In response to the publication today of the latest Live Register figures, ISME has demanded the immediate introduction of what it said is the Government's 'much announced' and 'much delayed' jobs initiative.


01/05/12--05:47: EFSF places €3bn three-year bond (chan 1600122)

The European Financial Stability Facility has today placed a €3bn three-year benchmark bond maturing on 4 February 2015, the proceeds of which will be used in conjunction with the financial assistance programmes for Ireland and Portugal.


01/06/12--03:56: Slight increase in M&A activity, but value falls (chan 1600122)

There was a 4pc increase in merger and acquisition transactions in 2011 to 273, but the total value of deals fell by 37pc to €25 billion, as the value and volume of large transactions declined, according to Experian.


01/06/12--07:21: Positive signs in US jobs market (chan 1600122)

In December, the US unemployment rate fell to 8.5pc, its lowest level since February 2009, and private companies added 212,000 jobs, it emerged today.


01/09/12--02:46: Troika officials return to Dublin tomorrow for bailout review (chan 1600122)

Troika officials are due back in Dublin tomorrow for the fifth review of Ireland's loan programme.


01/09/12--03:20: Data indicates stabilisation in construction sector (chan 1600122)

New data shows that the total activity at Irish construction firms fell marginally in December and that new orders rose, suggesting a stabilisation of the sector at the end of 2011.


01/09/12--05:43: Merkel and Sarkozy talks underway (chan 1600122)

German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Nicolas Sarkozy's talks on fiscal discipline in the eurozone are currently taking place and said to be proceeding well.


01/10/12--03:38: Troika officials in Dublin today for loan programme review (chan 1600122)

Officials from the IMF, ECB and European Commission are in Dublin today to begin the fifth review of Ireland's loan programme.


01/11/12--05:58: Noonan dismisses second bailout talk (chan 1600122)

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has called talk of a potential second bailout for Ireland "ludicrous".


01/11/12--23:00: Swift action needed to improve Ireland's competitiveness - NCC (chan 1600122)

Ireland's competitiveness is not improving quickly enough to improve the prospects of people who need jobs, according to National Competitiveness Council (NCC) chairman Dr Don Thornhill.


01/12/12--04:56: No second bail-out, says Kenny from London (chan 1600122)

Enda Kenny has told an audience in London he "absolutely rules out" the view that Ireland will need to seek a second bail-out, saying Ireland is in a programme for two years and meeting its targets and commitments


01/12/12--05:18: Eurozone interest rate stays at 1pc (chan 1600122)

The European Central Bank has decided not to reduce the main eurozone interest rate from 1pc.


01/13/12--01:13: Irish pension funds suffer serious losses due to Eurozone crisis (chan 1600122)

The eurozone crisis cost Irish pension fund assets over €2 billion in 2011, and managing risk will continue to be an important focus for organisations this year, according to pension experts Mercer.


01/13/12--01:28: ECB decision to hold interest rates "too cautious" - Ernst & Young (chan 1600122)

The European Central Bank (ECB) is being too cautious with its decision yesterday to keep interest rates on hold, according to Marie Diron, senior economic adviser to the Ernst & Young Eurozone Forecast.


01/13/12--06:21: NTMA says investor sentiment towards Ireland improving (chan 1600122)

During 2011, Ireland used the breathing space afforded by the EU/IMF funding programme to make significant progress in addressing its fiscal and banking issues, according to the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA).


01/16/12--00:46: S&P's downgrading of euro countries impacts markets (chan 1600122)

Ratings agency Standard and Poor's weekend downgrade of nine eurozone countries is affecting international markets this morning.


01/17/12--00:25: S&P's downgrades EFSF to AA+ (chan 1600122)

Standard and Poor's has downgraded the European Financial Stability Facility's long-term rating from AAA to AA+.


01/17/12--05:34: EFSF sells €1.5bn in six-month bills (chan 1600122)

The European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) held a six-month bill auction today, which it said was met with very strong demand attracting over €4.6bn in bids.


01/17/12--07:49: Global investors more optimistic about economy - survey (chan 1600122)

Global investors have started 2012 with increased optimism about the global economy and a greater appetite for risk, according to the BofA Merrill Lynch Survey of Fund Managers for January.


01/18/12--04:09: Massive drop in new builds compared to 2007 peak (chan 1600122)

Over 12,000 new residential and commercial buildings were completed in Ireland last year, which is a 30pc drop compared to 2010 and an 87pc fall compared to the record high of 2007, according to a survey by GeoDirectory.


01/18/12--07:49: IMF looks to raise more funds (chan 1600122)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will seek to raise up to $500bn from member countries in order to boost its lending resources in the face of the global financial crisis.


01/18/12--08:44: S&P takes Bord Gáis, ESB and DAA off credit watch (chan 1600122)

Standard & Poor's has turned its attention to the credit ratings of a number of state organisations throughout the eurozone and has moved Irish semi-states Bord Gáis, the Dublin Airport Authority and the ESB from CreditWatch negative to negative outlook.


01/19/12--04:59: Ireland has met all of its bailout targets - Government (chan 1600122)

Ireland has met all of its targets set out under the EU, ECB and IMF bailout programme, according to the Government.


01/19/12--08:02: Ireland on track but challenges remain - troika (chan 1600122)

The review team from the EC, ECB and IMF, which concluded its quarterly assessment of the Government's economic programme today, has revealed that while that programme is on track, "challenges remain and continued steadfast policy implementation will be key".


01/24/12--01:38: Retail sales down again in Q4 2011 - REI (chan 1600122)

Retail sales levels continued to fall in the fourth quarter of 2011 according to Retail Excellence Ireland's (REI) Irish Retail Industry Performance Review Q4 2011.


01/24/12--03:19: Residential property prices fall 16.7pc in 2011 (chan 1600122)

Residential property prices in Ireland fell by 16.7pc in the year to December 2011, according to figures released today by the Central Statistics Office.


01/24/12--05:51: 600 million 'productive' jobs needed in next decade - ILO report (chan 1600122)

The world urgently needs to create 600 million productive jobs over the next decade to generate sustainable growth and maintain social cohesion, according to the annual report on global employment by the International Labour Organization (ILO).