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Single regulator decision now ‘imminent’ - Harney
The Tanaiste, Mary Harney, has confirmed that the Government is now set to make a decision on the Single Regulatory Authority. |
Industry urges incentives for long term savings
Pre-budgetary submissions from industry have echoed economists’ calls for measures to encourage long term savings. |
E-commerce tops treasury issues
The changing role of corporate treasury within companies and the impact of e-commerce are pressing issues for Ireland’s treasurers. |
EU passporting for insurers
The EU commission has opened up ‘passporting’ for insurance intermediaries following the adoption of a proposal on 25 September. |
Falling euro boosts Irish pension funds
Irish pension schemes with holdings in the US stock market have enjoyed an exceptional return of up to 62 per cent since the euro was first launched, thanks to a 22 per cent rise in the US stock market plus the strengthening of the dollar against the euro. |
Venture capital funding up nearly IEP100 million
Irish venture capital providers made investments of IEP139 million in 1999 in Irish companies, according to data released by the Irish Venture Capital Association in September. Of this, IEP70 million went to MBOs, dominated by one large transaction, IEP40 million for expansion capital and IEP23 million for early stage investment. |
Card APRs fall as interest spirals
Competition amongst credit card providers has driven standard rate APRs down by 3 per centage in Ireland while interest rates have risen by 1.4 per cent. |
Anglo Irish Bank raise $125m
Anglo Irish Bank has raised $125 million of subordinated loan stock through a private placement from US institutional investors. |
Accountancy bodies may merge
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland is in discussions with the Institute of Certified Public Accountants about ways in which the two bodies can come together to create a more unified professions including merging the bodies into one. |
Commerzbank to service private client brokers
Commerzbank Securities plans to offer Irish private client brokers an internet-based service which will offer access to its research and execution facilities on pan-European stocks. |
Teething trouble for internet banks signalled
European internet banks do not respond to up to 50 per cent of client e-mails within eight hours according to an international survey of financial services providers by Cap Gemini Ernst & Young. |
Solmon.com launches online financial aggregator site
Products from 19 financial services companies have been pooled onto an Irish brokerage website called Solmon.com. |
EDITORIAL
Budgetary buzz |
McDowell sets out new frontiers for tax policy
The Attorney General, Michael McDowell gave a keynote speech to the ACCA Irish Financial Services Society at the end of September. |
E-commerce dominates as key issue in symposium
The changing role of corporate treasury was the topic of a symposium conducted by FInance amongst a panel of leading Irish bank corporate treasury figures. |
A new dawn in interest rate risk management
With rising debt levels for many Irish companies interest rate movements have become more important to business performance. Jayne Bull and Brian Lynch look at how Irish corporates are addressing the challenges of proactive interest rate management. |
SSSB reports recovery in internet traffic and assesses challenge from new entrants
Jeremy Sigee, a speaker at the Finance Dublin Conference last March on the theme of internet banking, has led the Schroder Salomon Smith Barney in London team updating their continuing analysis of internet banking trends in Europe. In September, SSSB released data on internet traffic at websites of retail financial services providers. Earlier, a conference heard from ceos of leading internet banks and the conclusions of the conference were analysed by the SSSB team. The following are some extract from the latest analysis by Sigee and the SSSB analysts. |
Recognising the golden opportunity in management buy outs
Paul Keenan and Orlagh McKeon explore different types of management buy outs are such an opportunity for Irish companies and looks at some of the options available. |
Export credit is an issue companies ignore at their peril
Credit insurance is an issue that companies ignore at their peril. Unfortunately, all too many do just that, relying on an over-confidence in their own knowledge of their overseas customers. |
Who’s who in Finance: Deirdre Somers, Listing Policy Manager, The Irish Stock Exchange
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Who’s who in Finance: Liam Hennessy, Partner, Farrell Grant Sparks
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Who’s who in Finance: Mark Kenny, Executive vice president, Equity Capital Markets, Jefferson Smurfit Group(JSG)
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Who’s who in Finance: David Earle, General Manager and Head of e-Business Development, EBS Building Society
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Wild geese
Walter Coakley
Executive director, National Banking Group, Keppel TatLee Bank Limited, Singapore. |
Wild geese
Mark Browne
Assistant Vice President, State Street Corporation. State Street Corporation has $6.1 trillion in assets under custody and $729 billion under management. |
After a volatile third quarter, uncertainty ahead
Finance invited bond and currency market experts to give their outlook for the coming quarter and predict the level of key indicators at quarter end. The following are the assessments for the current quarter and look back at how Q3 predictions compared with the outcome. |
After a volatile third quarter, uncertainty ahead
Finance invited bond and currency market experts to give their outlook for the coming quarter and predict the level of key indicators at quarter end. The following are the assessments for the current quarter and look back at how Q3 predictions compared with the outcome. |
Healthy competition
Keeping his finger on the pulse from Fermoy and Dublin, BUPA Ireland finance director Niall Devereux juggles product-launch reviews and planning meetings in an average day on the job. |
A framework for finance in the new economy
While e-commerce is revolutionising every area of business Marian Corcoran says the path to e-finance requires a realignment of the finance organisation towards a structure and culture that can enable e-business transformation. |
Share breaks
A tax relief that can yield an employee tax free income of ?10,000 per annum is not widely availed of. Approved profit sharing schemes are rare outside semi-state companies. |
Living over the shop
A scheme of capital allowances for the conversion of upper floors of commercial premises to residential use has been announced. It is subject to EU approval. |
Leaving home
Secondment abroad may be the occasion for renting out an employee's Irish home. What are the tax consequences? |
Weak euro produces lax monetary environment in Ireland
John Beggs considers Ireland's experience with the Euro and says that the benefits of membership should not be judged on the basis of the performance to date. |
