Greece’s central bank has moved to protect its banks from any fallout from the general election, asking the European Central Bank to approve a standby domestic emergency funding line, a Bank of Greece official said yesterday.

The Ftse 100 Index closed strongly ahead yesterday after a volatile session in which markets were buffeted by the fallout from the Swiss central bank’s move to end the franc’s exchange rate peg to the euro.

Switzerland’s companies warned of a plunge in exports, tourist revenues and profits after the country’s central bank scrapped its cap on the Swiss franc, sending the currency soaring up to 30% and crushing their competitiveness in world markets.

More couples got married in Ireland last year than anytime since 2008, but that was not enough to prevent accumulated profits plunging by over €250,000 at the country’s best-known wedding planning firm, Weddings by Franc Ltd.

The economic data from advanced economies remain solid as GDP reports covering the final quarter of 2013 were published in the US and UK last week.

US stocks sank the most since December 2008 yesterday, while Treasuries rallied and gold surged to a record, as Standard & Poor’s reduction of the nation’s credit rating fuelled concern the economic slowdown will worsen.

AS the euro hit another new four-year low against the dollar before rallying somewhat, exporters warned the weaker currency would have little impact on sale of Irish goods and services into Britain, the key market for indigenous exporters.

IN A mixed day for the markets that opened higher yesterday afternoon after struggling investment bank Lehman Brothers announced plans to sell assets to shore up its finances.

The euro has risen to an all time high of $1.24 in thinning pre-Christmas trading conditions in the United States.

The dollar has fallen to new historic lows against the euro, this time sent reeling by a report suggesting intervention from the European Central Bank to halt the single currency’s rapid rise is some way off.