Bond yields have tumbled globally in the past month in the latest leg to the rally that commenced last autumn.

The south-west’s foreign direct investment chief has warned there is no guarantee the competitiveness regained during the recession will be protected as the economy begins to recover.

Negative attitudes towards immigrants have hardened in recession-hit countries such as Ireland, Spain, and Greece, a study by the Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick has found.