The number of merger and acquisition (M&A) deals increased by 10% in the first nine months of 2012 but the value of the deals completed fell, the NCB Corporate Finance M&A Tracker Survey found.

Irish healthcare services group United Drug has continued its busy summer of acquisitions by purchasing two US-based companies for a combined consideration of up to $40 million (€32m).

Shares in Dublin were on the decline once again as markets await further news of intervention by the ECB in tackling the eurozone debt crisis.