THREE of the bigger international names linked with a potential bid for AIB’s €2 billion stake in its Polish bank have withdrawn their interest, reports suggest.

AIB last night responded to the challenges laid down the by the new regulatory regime that demands it finds €7.4 billion to achieve an 8% tier 1 capital ratio by the year end.

AIB is under pressure to sell off its prized US, British and Polish assets as the Government anticipates it could become a majority stakeholder in the bank.

MOODY’S, the international financial research, analysis and ratings company, has changed its outlook with regard to BZWBK, AIB’s Polish subsidiary.

THE ISEQ returned to its recent negative form following Monday’s reprieve. The Irish exchange closed down 37.05 to 9,152.77.

AIB expects its earnings to grow by a low double digit percentage this year despite a fall in profits at M&T Bank in the US where it has a 23.5% stake.

THE ISEQ Index continued in negative territory yesterday falling 30.81 to 9,542.58.

THE triple bid for the Dutch bank ABN Amro from Fortis, Santander and Royal Bank of Scotland raises the possibility of AIB, the country’s largest bank, becoming a takeover target.

SHAREHOLDERS in AIB can look forward to solid results when the bank releases figures for the first six months of the year next Tuesday, according to Davy stockbrokers.

The chairman of AIB, Dermot Gleeson, has told the company's AGM the bank is "in better shape than ever before".

BANK of Ireland has netted €40 million from the sale of its stake in the payment-processing firm EuroConex Technologies.

AIB’S Polish subsidiary doubled profits to over €27 million in the first three months of the year, the bank said yesterday.

AIB was keeping quiet yesterday on speculation that a deal to buy the pensions arm of Eagle Star had hit the rocks.

BANK of Ireland's in-house stockbroking company, Davy, has issued a very positive buy recommendation on arch rival AIB Bank, forecasting a healthy 20% share price gain.