Sluggish economic data from the world’s biggest economy offset gains by buoyant banking stocks, sending the FTSE 100 Index into the red and continuing a turbulent performance by the top tier.

RBS Six Nations: ENGLAND V SCOTLAND

Petroceltic has reported a pre-tax loss of $3.25 million (€2.6m) for the first half of 2012; shaving almost $1m off losses generated in the corresponding period last year.

Irish exploration company Petroceltic is set to take control of British oil exploration and production company Melrose Resources in a £165m (€210m) deal which will basically double the size of the Dublin-based firm.

COLIN McENTEE’S Leinster A couldn’t add the scalp of London Welsh to those of Esher, Melrose and Llanelli at Donnybrook yesterday but a draw was enough to secure a home quarter-final in the British & Irish Cup.

The Leinster management are optimistic that Fergus McFadden will come back into contention for a starting place for Saturday's trip to play Benetton Treviso in the RaboDirect PRO12 (2pm) after missing Sunday’s 38-13 victory over Glasgow Warriors in the RDS.

Glasgow 13 Benetton Treviso 15

Ireland U-20s 30 Scotland U-20s 13,

MIKE RUDDOCK’S Ireland U20s will take the field in Inverness tonight (7.30pm) with relative confidence, despite the recent home defeat by high-flying France.

PAUL O’CONNELL faces an ERC Independent Disciplinary hearing in Dublin today to account for his sending off in Thomond Park last Sunday, but Munster coach Tony McGahan must have some hope he can avoid a ban after naming him in Munster’s 28 man group (the match-day squad will be narrowed to 23) to feature in Saturday’s Heineken Cup away game to the Ospreys at the Liberty stadium.

THE selection of Donnacha Ryan in Munster’s British and Irish Cup squad confirms Paul O’Connell’s involvement in the Heineken Cup clash with the Ospreys at Thomond Park on Sunday.

MUNSTER A start the build-up to the British and Irish Cup campaign with a game against Irish rivals Leinster at Donnybrook on Sunday (2.30pm) and are boosted by the inclusion of some key figures from the senior squad.

Ireland U-20 44 Scotland U-20 15

HAVING made their home in Athlone’s Dubarry Park, Ireland will be expected to step up to the mark and beat Scotland to clinch the Six Nations U20 title this evening (7.35pm).

IRELAND half-back pair Sam Cronin and Barry Keeshan will be keen to return to some unfinished business when they face their Scottish counterparts in a Club International at Donnybrook tonight (7pm).

The London market slipped into the red today as Royal Bank of Scotland’s £12bn rights issue triggered a tough session for bank shares.

IRELAND held off a tremendous late Scottish rally at Donnybrook to win a hugely enjoyable AIB Club international last night.

BRIAN WALSH, who is enjoying such a highly successful spell as coach of a Cork Constitution side striding away at the top of the AIB All-Ireland League table, spreads his wings this evening when taking charge of the Irish team playing Scotland in the AIB club international at Donnybrook, kick-off 7.35pm (RTE 2, 7.30 pm).

Turnaround company Melrose today confirmed it had approached engineering group FKI about a possible takeover valuing the firm at around £412m (€550m).

WITH new Australian signing Tim McGann making his debut, Declan Kidney is looking for a stronger effort from his Munster charges when they take on Border Reivers in the Magners Celtic League at Thomond Park tonight (7.30).

Ireland 30 Scotland 13, Donnybrook

THE Boreenmanna Road was one of Cork’s best-kept secrets for years - whole sections fallow on one side, good-quality individual housing on the other and a clear stretch of commuter heaven road leading directly to the south city link road.

Two Bank of Scotland Premier League matches and Sunderland’s Division One clash with Preston were the highest profile victims of the weather today.

Former Scotland international and British Lion Craig Chalmers is to return to Melrose as first-team coach.

Scotland Under-21 have made seven changes - two positional - from the team defeated 25-18 by their Irish counterparts earlier this month for the game against France on Friday afternoon.