The News

Euro could become the dollar’s alternative, Lagarde says

The euro could become a viable alternative to the dollar, earning the 20-nation bloc immense benefits, if governments could only strengthen the bloc’s financial and security architecture, ECB President Christine Lagarde said today. Unnerved by erratic US economic policy, global investors have been reducing their exposure to dollar assets in recent months but many have […]

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EU and US agree to fast track trade talks after phone call

The European Commission has said that President Ursula Von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump have agreed to fast track trade negotiations and to stay in close contact following last night’s phone call. Mr Trump has said he would pause his threatened 50% tariffs on the European Union until 9 July, after a “very […]

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Tourism may help support long-term economic growth – BPFI SME Monitor

A new report shows that while export-driven economic growth in the first quarter of this year may not be sustainable, efforts to boost domestic tourism should help to sustain employment and support more balanced growth. But the latest SME Monitor from Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) also shows that cost pressures and price increases […]

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VC funding into Irish SMEs soars in first quarter to €533m

Venture capital funding into Irish SMEs jumped to €532.8m in the first quarter of 2025, new figures from the Irish Venture Capital Association Venture Pulse survey shows. This was a record for a first quarter and marked a year-to-year increase of over 100%. The survey is carried out in association with William Fry. It showed […]

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Oil edges up after Trump extends EU trade talks deadline to July

Oil prices recorded limited gains today after US President Donald Trump extended a deadline for trade talks with the European Union, easing concerns about US tariffs on the bloc that could hurt the global economy. Brent crude futures rose 18 cents, or 0.28%, to $64.96 a barrel early this morning while US West Texas Intermediate […]

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15% of households couldn’t cope with a financial emergency

How would your household deal with an unexpected financial emergency costing €1,000? That was a question posed as part of this month’s Credit Union Consumer Sentiment survey. Just over a third of consumers say that they would use savings, while 18% say they would use their income, and 15% say they would be unable to […]

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