The pressure facing retailers over the ‘Long Black Friday’ weekend following the plunge in sterling since the Brexit vote could ease significantly as the euro faces the first of its own looming tests next week, according to analysts.

A huge downward revision by the UK government of its bailed-out banks has once again put a spotlight on the over-valuation of AIB and other banks here on the State’s books.

The Central Bank had by accident dropped into a political fight which it was never going to lose, but has nonetheless avoided a much messier outcome by sanctioning only minor changes to its inflexible mortgage lending rules.

The chief executive of KBC Ireland said that the road is probably narrowing for the prospects of further reductions in home loans.

A key survey tracking Irish construction appears to suggest there is finally some momentum behind building new homes.

The economy of Cork and the South West is not growing as fast as Dublin, “but is growing nonetheless”, economist Seamus Coffey has told a business gathering.