DESPITE a tough few years Keanes Jewellers in Limerick are obviously looking to the future with a €500k investment in their Limerick store opening to the public on Friday, November 21.

The festive shopping period might not have been the glittering revival of consumer confidence retailers hoped for, but one sector has kept its sparkle.

A shop unit that traditionally would have been swamped by frantic, last-minute male shoppers seeking luxury Valentine Day gifts is now itself seeking proposals, and courting a new relationship.

AIB Bank is open to lending money to start-up businesses and house hunters, one bank executive said yesterday in reply to criticism from a loan applicant.