Waterford Wedgwood's American arm has been ordered to pay $500,000 (€408,000) to the office of the New York Attorney General.

Luxury goods company Waterford Wedgwood and three other companies will have to pay out $2.9m in civil penalties in a settlement with New York’s Attorney General.

Blue chip stocks extended their rally to a second session in New York today, but tech stocks slipped when investors sold shares to lock in profits.