Irish people have bought at least two new technology products this year and plan to buy more in the run up to Christmas, it has emerged.

Britain’s Home Retail Group said yesterday that summer sunshine had delivered a big boost to sales at its home improvements chain Homebase in the second quarter and helped shift seasonal products at its biggest business, Argos.

Catalogue chain Argos returned to profits growth today after an “encouraging” year in which more than half its sales were generated online.

“Phenomenal” demand for tablet devices drove sales at the British and Irish operations of electronic goods seller, Dixons Retail, up by 8% during the company’s third quarter, which coincided with the busy Christmas trading period.

The digital makeover of catalogue chain Argos showed early signs of progress today after strong trading figures for the peak Christmas period.

Rupert Murdoch today called time on News Corporation’s digital newspaper The Daily as he unveiled a revamped team at the top of the media giant’s new publishing arm.

Retailer Argos is to change from a catalogue to a digitally-led retail model, which will see 75 stores either closed or relocated in the next five years.

Argos says it plans to close or relocate up to 75 stores over the next five years.

Stock markets remained under pressure on both sides of the Atlantic today amid fears over the health of the global economy.

The London market lost ground today as investors eyed events in the eurozone at the start of another vital week in its battle for survival.

The owner of PC World and Currys offered some cheer from the embattled sector today as it posted a 15% hike in UK & Ireland profits after a rebound in sales.

The launch of Apple's iPad 3 tablet computer provided some welcome respite for embattled catalogue chain Argos as it reported better-than-expected sales today.

Argos has warned of store closures, after suffering significant sales declines last year, but it is too early to know if its Irish operations will be affected.

Argos' owner has pulled the plug on its shareholder dividend after revealing a 60% plunge in annual profits.

London’s leading shares index finished the week on a high after bullish comments from analysts helped lift some of the gloom over the banking sector.

London's leading shares index ended the week on a high today as fresh evidence of growth in the United States boosted traders' confidence.

A drop in oil prices triggered by a joint US and UK move to release strategic reserves pulled energy stocks and the wider FTSE 100 Index into the red today.

Banking stocks led strong gains on the London market today as optimism surrounding the global economic outlook strengthened.

DECLINING sales of consumer electronic equipment over the festive period dragged seasonal sales at catalogue retailer Argos down by nearly 9%.

The owner of Argos blamed the weak consumer electronics market today for another sharp drop in sales at the catalogue retailer.

Entertainment group HMV insisted today that it still has a future – despite reporting a further drop in sales in the run-up to Christmas.

Investors started 2012 with a burst of optimism today as upbeat manufacturing data from all corners of the world triggered a rally on London’s top shares index.

A year to forget for investors ended today with London’s benchmark index 5.5% lower than its starting point in January.

Two successful Italian bond auctions eased fears about the eurozone debt crisis today and helped London’s leading shares index make cautious gains.

THE Irish arm of the DIY and garden centre retailer Homebase last year plunged further into the red, recording pre-tax losses of €46.1 million.

A gloomy forecast from the Bank of England compounded fears over the future of the eurozone and further knocked the confidence of investors today.

SHARES in Home Retail Group plunged yesterday after profits at its Argos chain were hammered as shoppers put off buying TVs and computer consoles.

Catalogue chain Argos scraped a half-year profit of just £3.4 million today after consumers put off buying “big ticket” electronics items.

The boss of struggling entertainment group HMV today vowed to press on with plans to overhaul its technology offering as he reported another plunge in sales over the summer.

London’s leading index closed higher for a third day running as investors shrugged off fears of a slowdown in the euro region.

The owner of Argos heaped more gloom on the retail sector today as it revealed the catalogue chain saw same-store sales drop nearly 9% in the last three months.

Royal Bank of Scotland shares slumped 12% today as litigation fears, weak economic data and the eurozone debt crisis drained market confidence.

Fears over the global economic climate troubled traders today as European markets fell further into the red.

The future of up to 30 stores and 720 jobs was put at risk today after the UK side of retail brand Habitat went into administration.

London’s main market made progress despite a tough time for the retail sector after the owner of catalogue chain Argos issued a gloomy warning over high street trading.

Argos owner Home Retail Group today said annual profits dropped 13% as it revealed the boss of its embattled catalogue chain was stepping down.

Early losses on Wall Street kept London’s FTSE 100 Index in the red today amid investor caution over a Chinese rate hike and fresh European economic woes.

London's FTSE 100 Index pulled back from its six week high today as banks and commodity stocks weighed on the market.

The London market was kept afloat by mining giants today after the owner of Currys and PC World issued a profits warning triggering declines among retailers.

A profits warning from Currys and PC World parent Dixons Retail triggered declines for retailers today, but the news failed to drag the wider market down.

The owner of catalogue chain Argos cut profit forecasts today after admitting conditions were "more difficult and volatile" than it had expected.

A BUSY day of reporting from retail sector leaders revealed supermarket giant, Tesco took a hit from the harsh weather over the Christmas and New Year trading period and Dixons Retail generated a 4% year-on-year sales fall in its core UK and Ireland division.

The Christmas retail reporting season created more winners and losers today as the wider market eased back from yesterday’s fresh two-and-a-half year high.

The owner of the Argos chain said its profits hopes remained intact today after strong demand for laptops and toys helped it overcome “some particularly challenging and volatile” conditions in the run-up to Christmas.