RORY McILROY has revealed comparisons with world number one Tiger Woods are making him ‘more motivated’.

Business managers who are taken hostage at their companies by disgruntled workers must defy them and refuse to “start negotiations with a gun at the head”, the leader of a French business federation said today.

Bosses at a company in France were today released without incident after being held hostage overnight in a dispute over plans to close their factory.

French workers today released a boss they had held for two days in a dispute over lay-offs at a factory.

Striking French workers took their boss hostage today in an effort to get improved redundancy terms.

Finnish banks today issued a new share-based savings plan tied to firms that have women in leading positions because they are more profitable.

Wall Street stumbled today after a key survey showed manufacturing unexpectedly contracted in November for the first time in more than three years, stoking concerns that the US economy will not be able to achieve a soft landing.

A late-day rebound gave stocks a moderate advance today as sharply lower oil prices and an unexpected jump in consumer confidence settled unease over a batch of mixed earnings.

Stocks in the US finished an uneasy session mixed today as investors grew nervous ahead of the second-quarter earnings season. Weakness in the technology sector dragged on the Nasdaq composite index.

A corporate profit warning and record oil prices overshadowed a benign jobs creation report and sent stocks sharply lower in the United States today.

Wall Street gave up early gains and closed mostly lower today after oil prices topped US$75 (€60.78) a barrel for the first time.

US stocks rose moderately for a second consecutive session today, boosted by strong earnings from United Technologies and McDonalds.

THE introduction of mandatory reflective clothing for pedestrians would be impossible to enforce, it was claimed last night.

The introduction of mandatory reflective clothing for pedestrians would be impossible to enforce, it was claimed tonight.

Disappointed investors sent stocks tumbling today after the Federal Reserve said it would keep to its policy of raising interest rates at a ”measured” pace.

TWO leading Dublin-based PR firms have announced a merger that will catapult the enlarged business into the top three in the Irish market.

Stocks tumbled sharply on Wall Street today as a second-quarter profit warning from Asda owners Wal-Mart Stores overshadowed strong economic news and a sharp drop in oil prices.

Confident US investors, buoyed by positive earnings reports from the financial sector and bullish corporate outlooks for 2005, returned to the market today after weeks of uncertainty, pushing stocks sharply higher.

A sharp drop in oil prices gave Wall Street a modest relief rally today, with stocks edging higher on news that oil production had soared during the month of September.

Advertising giant WPP was celebrating another major acquisition today after agreeing terms to buy Procter & Gamble’s agency Grey Global.

A weak profit outlook from 3M Co disappointed Wall Street today, leaving stocks mixed as investors grew worried that second-half profits will fall short of expectations.

Wall Street was unable to shake its malaise over interest rates today, closing mixed despite a rally in technology stocks and a series of upbeat earnings reports from companies, including 3M and Eli Lilly. The Nasdaq composite index broke a four-day losing streak.

DUBLIN-BASED pharmaceutical company Alltracel moved into the €1 billion Asia Pacific market yesterday by signing a deal with a leading first aid manufacturer in the region.

US investors intent on collecting profits from Friday’s big gains looked past a series of positive earnings reports today and sent blue chip stocks moderately lower. The falling dollar and rising price of oil contributed to the selling.

Wall Street had a moderate rebound today as strong earnings from 3M and Citigroup helped investors overcome their disappointment in the latest Index of Leading Economic Indicators.

US investors, uneasy following downbeat earnings from Merck and Lexmark International, sold off stocks yesterday to lock in profits from Friday’s rally. Prices on Wall Street fell sharply.

US investors, uneasy following downbeat earnings from Merck and Lexmark International, sold off stocks today to lock in profits from Friday’s rally. Prices on Wall Street fell sharply.

Wall Street looked askance at earnings reports yesterday, with investors bidding stocks sharply lower despite healthy profits at companies such as 3M and Ford.

Wall Street resumed its upward march today, propelling the Dow Jones industrials to their third triple-digit gain in the past four trading sessions.

Wall Street took a respite today after two weeks of volatile trading, dipping lower as investors awaited a Federal Reserve meeting on interest rates.

Motorola has confirmed plans to close its Bathgate plant in West Lothian, where more than 3,000 workers make mobile phones.