High street clothing stores Brown Thomas, Arnotts, and Zara are the latest retailers to be hit by the spread of Covid-19.

Irish-backed UK pub group Mitchells and Butlers has reported a drop in annual profit and has warned Brexit could impact on staff costs and its ability to increase employee numbers.

GOVERNMENT coffers will get a €1.3 billion tax boost from the booming stock exchange in 2006 while stockbrokers look set to generate gross profits of up to €600m for the year.