INVESTOR confidence in Germany, Europe’s largest economy, dropped to the lowest in two-and-a-half years in June as the region’s debt crisis dimmed the economic outlook.

THE company which owns the Unicare pharmacy chain has written down the value of its Irish assets by €85 million and expects a significant decline in operating earnings this year.

IRISH pharmaceutical distribution group Cahill May Roberts, reported a 3.2% drop in first half revenue to €157 million.

THE Irish operations of German pharmacy and drug wholesaler Celesio proved one of the highlights in the group’s performance last year.

CELESIO, the drug distribution company, has reported steady growth in its Irish operations so far this year.

Strong gains for Dixons owner DSG International and merger partners Boots and Alliance UniChem excited traders in an otherwise downbeat session today.

UNITED Drug could be on the verge of clinching an all-Ireland drug and pharmaceutical product distribution deal with the Boots chemist chain.

CELESIO, Europe’s top pharmaceutical trader, is looking to acquire pharmacies in Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium, according to its chief executive.

GERMAN drug group Celesio says its turnover in Ireland has topped €400 million for the first nine months of the year.

Celesio, the German group which owns pharmacy firms Cahill May Roberts and Unicare, says its Irish turnover is increasing at double-digit rates.

Trading on the ISEQ today was dominated by the return of eircom.

Eircom is to return to the market in the largest listing in Dublin since the company last floated in 1999.

UNITED Drug has reported a 24% rise in full year pre-tax profits, driven by market share gain across its four operating divisions.

THE UniPhar pharmacy group are on the lookout for further acquisitions after their takeover of the Cork chemists chain Phelans.