Cork-based industrial firm Crest Solutions has acquired Belgian company VistaLink for an undisclosed sum.

AS the value of Irish food and drink exports approaches a record €9 billion in 2011, the key contribution of Jameson Irish whiskey was recognised last night when it won the Bord Bia Food and Drink Export Award.

A NATIONAL plan for the tillage industry was sought at the Teagasc tillage conference in Carlow yesterday.

British housebuilder Crest Nicholson today said it had backed a £715m (€1bn) takeover offer from banking giant HBOS and tycoon Tom Hunter.

TOM Healy is to step down as chief executive of the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE) in June after 20 years in the job.

British high-street banking group HBOS and Scottish tycoon Tom Hunter were today being tipped to make another attempt to land housebuilder Crest Nicholson.

WATERFORD’S leading business people hope to pick up a few tips from an Olympic coach and some of the country’s leading entrepreneurs tomorrow as a major retail conference gets under way.

TWENTY-FOUR independently owned Irish retail shops have been selected for the finals of the FBD CREST Retail Excellence Awards.

Minister for Enterprise Micheál Martin today opened the Centre for Research into Engineering Surface Technology, the Crest Centre at the Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street.

The FTSE 100 Index ended today below the key 4900 barrier as gloom in London persisted despite upbeat trading on Wall Street.

The London market slumped today as record rises in oil prices and the US current account deficit combined with a profits from General Motors to shake confidence.

A respite from higher oil prices could not persuade investors to come off the sidelines in London ahead of today’s Budget speech.

Crest Nicholson today became the latest property developer to report slowing house price growth – but said market conditions remained good.

Munster stores picked up a hat-full of honours at the recent FBD Crest National Retail Excellence Awards.

Foreign competition, new laws and changing tastes of Irish consumers are changing the face of Irish retailing, a leading retail representative declared today.

STOCK markets have had a flying start to the year.

Wall Street gained momentum today, surging higher for the second straight day on the Federal Reserve’s positive outlook for the economy.

Wall Street traded tentatively today, with investors bidding blue chips moderately higher but selling technology issues on another string of semiconductor downgrades.

US investors punished stocks once again today, directing their anger mostly at blue chips as they grappled with disappointment over the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy.

The Posthouse hotel chain is unveiling a new brand designed to attract a different generation of business traveller.