The European Central Bank will meet in Frankfurt today, amid growing speculation that they will intervene in the Eurozone crisis.

Market analysts have remained relatively upbeat over the prospects for ferry operator/freight business, Irish Continental Group (ICG) — which holds its annual general meeting on Wednesday.

STOCKBROKERS have urged investors to be cautious in their stock choices this year; expressing doubt that predicted growth across European and US equity markets can actually be achieved and predicting a secondary recession for the eurozone.

BRITISH and Irish banks led an incredible European financial sector rally yesterday as authorities banned short selling of financial stocks.

THE takeover of the two biggest mortgage providers in the US, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will help ease the credit crunch crisis.

The ISEQ overall index improved 25.62 points to close at 6,143.99, but the slight gain was overshadowed by a slump in Irish Life & Permanent shares.

INSURANCE and banking group Irish Life & Permanent is in talks to buy Dolmen Securities’ stockbroking business, aiming to beef up its position in the wealth management market, the Sunday Times reported.

PROPERTY developer Liam Carroll has increased his holding in Irish Continental Group, overtaking Moonduster, one of the two bidders battling for control of the ferry operator.

British Midland Airways (bmi) has denied reports that it is involved in talks with Shannon Airport Authority to start flights to Heathrow.

PROPERTY developer Liam Carroll has upped his stake in Irish Continental Group (ICG) from 19% to 19.28%.

THE battle for control of shipping group ICG is about to step up a gear as One51 and the Cork based Doyle shipping group prepare to mount a counter offer of over €500m for the shipping group.

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.

ONE51 and the Doyle Group have increased their stake in ICG to 20.2%, paying up to €20.75 for its recent share purchases in the group.

WOULD St Patrick be impressed if he came back to Ireland today? This seems a good starting point this week.

Irish Continental Group founder and chief executive Eamon Rothwell said failure to generate top line growth was the key reason management want to take the company private.

PROPOSED tax reforms in the United States by the Democrats, who took control of Congress in January, could be potentially damaging to this economy.

JUST before the start of the Greencore annual general meeting in Dublin last Thursday, Philip Kinnane, whose family farm backed onto the Thurles sugar factory, said he believed we had seen the last of beet growing here.

PROPERTY developer Sean Dunne has added to his Jurys Doyle stake in a further move to safeguard his attempt to buy the hotel group’s €260 million Ballsbridge site.

SCANDAL-WRACKED AIB Group hit back yesterday with a strong set of earnings figures to silence its detractors.

Dolmen Butler Briscoe has acquired the stock-broking business of its smaller competitor BCP. The re-named company, Dolmen Stockbrokers, will expand to a staff of around 70 people in three offices in Dublin, Cork and Limerick.

KINGSPAN shares rose by 7.74% yesterday on the back of the promise of a special 12c dividend as pre-tax profits plunged by 13% to €63.7 million.

BUY Irish Life and Permanent shares to get a 3.8% dividend in May, Dolmen Stockbrokers advised clients yesterday.