Ireland, home of the euro region’s worst banking crisis four years ago, is relaxed about the latest examination of its financial companies.

Investec Plc, which owns a bank and money manager in South Africa and the UK, declined the most in more than four years after it said fiscal first-half operating profit will drop on rand weakness and market turmoil.

Pernod Ricard, the owner of Irish Distillers, which makes the Jameson, Midleton, and Powers whiskeys, reported strong third-quarter sales.

Kentz Corp, the Clonmel-headquartered oil and gas engineering company whose clients include Exxon Mobil, fell the most in eight months in London trading after two directors agreed to sell shares.

Investec Ireland, part of the international specialist banking group Investec plc has today announced profits before tax for the year to March 31, 2009, of €36m.