January has seen a number of large public companies issue profit warnings, something which is set to become commonplace, writes Kyran Fitzgerald.

Further industrial action by a number of 999 operators following yesterday’s 12-hour work stoppage is being considered, the Communications Workers’ Union has warned.

The UK Treasury yesterday announced its intention to sell at least £2bn worth of shares in Lloyds Banking Group to private retail investors in spring 2016 to return the bank to full private ownership.

Shareholders in Britain’s Lloyds Banking Group are calling on the government to rethink plans to sell down its stake in the lender to ensure taxpayers get the best deal.

Lloyds Bank is expected to set out its dividend plans next week, including a potential return of surplus cash to shareholders, making its stock more attractive ahead of a possible sale to retail investors, industry sources have said.

Britain will launch a sale of shares in Lloyds to private retail investors in the next 12 months in what is expected to be the biggest privatisation since Margaret Thatcher’s government sold off assets in the 1980s.

Belfast has avoided the serious flooding that many feared after a tidal surge came and went without breaching defences.

Police have warned that the docks area close to Belfast city centre could flood in a tidal surge later today, but have expressed hope that serious flooding in the east of the city may now be prevented.

Billionaire businessman Denis O’Brien has won a battle with Revenue that saves him paying nearly €57m in capital gains tax.

Controversial social media website ask.fm has said it will carry out a full and independent audit of the site and its safety features, following widespread criticism of its response to cyberbullying.

Pressure is growing on one of the web’s most controversial social networking sites as a raft of major brands have pulled adverts — because of its lacklustre response tocyberbullying.

The UK government said it will sell a majority stake in 360-year-old Royal Mail via an initial public offering by the end of March.

Billionaire businessman Denis O’Brien is fighting a bid by Revenue to overturn a decision that he was not liable to pay nearly €57m in tax in Ireland around the same time he started living in Portugal.

Margaret Thatcher is Britain’s most popular prime minister since the Second World War, eclipsing even Winston Churchill, a poll has found.

French fashion house Thierry Mugler has become the latest high-profile sponsor to distance itself from Oscar Pistorius as the Paralympian fights murder charges in South Africa.

Royal Mail workers will be offered a 10% stake in the company as the British government steps up plans for a flotation amid a recent rally in financial markets, it was reported yesterday.

Businessman Denis O’Brien told the High Court yesterday he pays his taxes in Ireland and in all countries he and his company Digicel are connected with.

BT’s Irish operations grew revenue by 5%, on a year-on-year basis, in the group’s third quarter, covering the three months to the end of December.

Bob Hoskins’s retirement after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease brings the curtain down on a distinguished career.

Despite almost four years of recession, Ireland’s richest are getting even richer.

Billionaire businessman Denis O’Brien should not be invited to future government-sponsored economic fora, Europe Minister Lucinda Creighton has said.

Belfast-born Frank Carson died yesterday after a long battle with cancer.

London’s leading shares index pushed higher today amid hope that Greek prime minister George Papandreou would drop his plans to hold a referendum on the eurozone rescue deal.

A raft of solid earnings from household names encouraged investors to overlook the unfolding chaos in the eurozone and send London’s blue chip index higher.

AN energy firm based in Kilkenny is to get an €800,000 investment to fund its expansion.

THE findings of the Moriarty Tribunal have been criticised by a retired senior civil servant for ignoring the sworn evidence of a large group of government officials.

TAXPAYERS could be facing multi-million euro compensation claims from losing bidders for the state’s second mobile phone licence after the Moriarty Tribunal found that former Fine Gael minister Michael Lowry had helped Denis O’Brien’s Esat consortium win the lucrative competition.

An inquiry into payments to politicians has branded a rent deal linked to an Independent TD and businessman Ben Dunne as "profoundly corrupt".

WE now face into an election which is unlikely to result in substantial changes to the provisions of the budget and Finance Bill.

TELEPHONE operator O2 is to announce a major jobs boost as part of a significant investment in Ireland.

British Telecom has said that any job losses at its Irish operations will be based around its ongoing policy of “natural attrition”, rather than forming any part of the group’s overall cost-cutting plan, which involves the loss of 10,000 positions.

British Telecom has refuted suggestions that it discriminates against any of its employees in any country.

THE sale of broadcaster Setanta Sports is unlikely to happen for at least 18 months.

British Telecom today said it had paid out £182m (€261m) on its restructuring plans after 2,000 people left the business.

Eircom today beat off competition from British Telecom to win a hi-tech €100m contract in the North's civil service.

I WISH to take up the challenge of Michael Burns (Letters, July 24) to name five PD policies which could be described as Thatcherite.

DENIS O’Brien has upped his stake in Independent News & Media to just over 5%.

TELECOMS regulator ComReg will be given robust powers, including the power to impose fines of up to €4 million, to speed up the opening of Eircom’s exchanges to competitors, according to Communications Minister Noel Dempsey.

IRISH broadcasting giant, Setanta, has concluded a groundbreaking deal in Britain and delivered another blow to Sky Sports.

Mobile phone company Digicel is thriving in the Caribbean and is eyeing further expansion, reports Ian Guider in Port of Spain.

Australian Craig Mottram, currently the world’s best non-African distance runner, bids to enhance his fast-growing reputation in the British Telecom 3,000 metres road race on Saturday.

OPENET Telecom, which is backed by former Esat boss Barry Maloney, made its first profits last year.

WHEN Transport Minister Martin Cullen publicly rebuked eircom chief executive Dr Phil Nolan for delays in the delivery of broadband communication, he was speaking up for rural Ireland.

The British government today stayed tight-lipped about claims that it had rebuffed a plea for help from struggling telecoms group Marconi.

Mobile phone group O2 is to recruit 2,000 staff and open a fourth call centre as part of plans to boost customer service, it emerged today.

A FORMER government official has been charged with attempting to sway a bid for Antigua’s mobile phone company in favour of a consortium led by Irish businessman Denis O’Brien.

British Telecom continued to benefit from strong broadband take-up today after revenues grew for a fourth quarter in a row and profits lifted 4%.