Enda Kenny is facing a growing backlash over claims he has “no plan” to cope with the escalating Brexit crisis and has “sat on his hands” as the situation unfolded.

Kenny accused of having ‘no discernible plan, vision or direction’.

TV viewership of Sky’s flagship Sunday late-afternoon soccer game has fallen 19% this season, the biggest drop yet in a five-year slide in the UK that raises the risk that a decline in subscribers may follow.

BT Group is using its control of the UK’s main broadband network, Openreach, to favour its own interests and regulators should consider a break-up unless the company steps up investment and gives rivals better access, a British parliamentary select committee said yesterday.

London’s top-flight index fell just short of breaking through the 6,700 mark for the first time in 11 months after shares in ARM Holdings soared following its takeover approach from Japan’s SoftBank.

Sky reported rising customer attrition rates across Europe as the broadcaster curtailed discounts in the UK and Ireland and lost viewers in Italy after failing to secure the rights to Champions League soccer.

The London market edged back into positive territory as a rise in the price of oil eased the pressure on top-flight stocks.

The Ftse struggled to make headway yesterday as the falling price of crude dragged on stocks after a key meeting of oil producers ended in stalemate.

Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Hoettges often says Europe needs fewer, bigger telecommunications carriers that can invest in faster networks and better compete with Google and Facebook. Deutsche Telekom has a 12% stake in BT.

Telefonica, Spain’s biggest telecommunications operator, agreed to pay €2.4bn for rights to Spanish soccer and Champions League matches, a move that gives the company’s pay-TV service sports telecasts its competitors already have.

Sky hopes to achieve higher prices for TV packages in its core British market, following years of investments, to offer customised bundles and premium content, its chief executive said yesterday.

Talks between Vodafone and Liberty Global about exchanging assets to better compete in Europe’s converging mobile, broadband, and TV markets collapsed yesterday because they could not agree on the value of their businesses.

Digicel Group, the mobile-services company owned by Denis O’Brien, is planning to raise $1.5bn-$2bn (€1.78bn) in an initial public offering as soon as this month, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The London market ended lower yesterday with traders concerned that Greece’s debt talks will see it default next week unless a deal is agreed.

Irish billionaire Denis O’Brien’s Digicel Group, the mobile-services company operating in the Caribbean and South Pacific regions, plans to sell shares in an initial public offering and to list on the New York Stock Exchange.

Britain’s BT Group is in early stage talks with Spain’s Telefonica on a deal to buy UK mobile operator O2, with two sources saying it has also begun negotiations with EE as it seeks a return to the British consumer mobile market.

The promotion of low-cost airline easyJet to the FTSE 100 Index will be confirmed this week after a record run for its share price.

Stelios Haji-Ioannou stoked up his feud with the airline he founded today by vowing to vote against the company at its annual meeting.

London’s top flight index resumed its new year rally today as it was cheered by encouraging data from both sides of the Atlantic.

World markets today recouped some of the losses they suffered in yesterday’s rout, with banks and mining stocks leading the recovery.

Strong earnings figures from Apple and investment bank Morgan Stanley whetted investors' appetite for risk today but failed to keep the London market out of the red.

Traders shrugged off sovereign debt woes and sustained violence in Libya as reassuring results from Next and B&Q owner Kingfisher boosted the retail sector.

Falling oil prices offered support for the FTSE 100 Index today but hefty declines among miners limited gains in the top tier.

The rally on London’s FTSE 100 Index came to a halt today amid falls from heavyweight oil giant Royal Dutch Shell and concerns over escalating violence in Egypt.

The FTSE 100 Index showed little appetite for finishing the year above 6,000 today, despite some better economic news from the United States.

BT IRELAND has seen double digit percentage growth in its first-half profits for the fourth successive year, with earnings up 14% — on a year-on-year basis — in the six months to the end of September.

The FTSE 100 Index marched further ahead today thanks to robust figures on Chinese economic growth and more good earnings news on Wall Street.

Hopes for further economy-boosting measures from the US Federal Reserve mounted today, sending the London market higher.

The FTSE 100 Index paused for breath today after its recent shares rally as commodity stocks posted heavy falls.

The FTSE 100 Index failed to make headway today as a surprise fall in retail sales weighed on sentiment.

The UK retail sector's recent rally was knocked off course today after the Office for National Statistics reported an unexpected fall in sales last month.

Stock markets made strong gains on both sides of the Atlantic today as positive US economic data helped ease recovery fears.

The FTSE 100 Index remained in positive territory for the seventh straight session today, but stocks trod water as US markets remained shut for the Labor Day holiday.

The FTSE 100 Index regained some ground today after positive retail figures at home and uplifting unemployment data in the US steadied investors' nerves.

London’s blue-chip share index failed to hold on to gains today as losses on Wall Street wiped out early progress.

The FTSE 100 Index ended a buoyant week with its fourth winning session in a row today as mining stocks continued their recent push higher.

Stock markets worldwide moved higher today after earnings cheer from US bank JP Morgan Chase confirmed a buoyant start to America's results season.

Hopes for debt-laden Greece helped buoy investor sentiment today and drive blue chip stocks higher.

Heavyweight banking and mining stocks helped the FTSE 100 Index gain ground ahead of comments from the US Federal Reserve later today.

The FTSE 100 Index dropped back below the 5600 level today as concerns over moves to calm China’s economy hit mining stocks hard.