Forget high heels. From high end to high street, as we crave comfort with our style, trainers have become a runaway success, writes Annmarie O’Connor.

Aldi and Lidl’s decades-long supermarket battle in Europe is moving to the US, adding to the competitive pressure in an industry embroiled in a deflation-fuelled price war.

AIB’s chances of offloading its 23% stake in US bank, M&T were done no harm yesterday, with the New York-based company announcing a near $140 million (€109m) year-on-year increase in second quarter profits.

Music giant EMI was said today to be preparing a new £2.4bn takeover bid for Warner Music that it hopes will be more in tune with the wishes of its board.