Bank shares surge on prospect of Brexit deal

Additional reporting by Fiachra Ó Cionnaith

Surging optimism for a breakthrough Brexit deal also sent the value of the two main Irish banks, AIB and Bank of Ireland surging by an unprecedented €1.5bn by last night. It came as investors piled back into sterling for a second day after the Thursday meeting in England between Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and UK prime minister Boris Johnson.