Sterling fell to the lowest point in nearly a month as reports speculated that UK prime minister Theresa May could face a leadership rebellion from within her own party and new figures showed a slump in UK car sales.

The UK elections are getting tighter, which could mean another nervy few days this coming week for sterling traders and Irish firms depending on the currency.

BlackRock, the world’s biggest money manager, says it snapped up some of the eurozone’s long-dated government bond issues recently, attracted by their relatively high yields as well as signs of economic progress in the countries concerned.

The UK’s amateur landlords, already bruised by higher taxes when they buy rentals and lower rates of tax relief, could be facing a new blow.

Economic sentiment in the eurozone rose to a seven-month high and German unemployment dropped, keeping the region on a recovery path as the ECB prepares to unleash its quantitative-easing programme.

Banco Santander has offered €4.7bn in shares for a 25% stake in its Brazil unit, in a bid to complete a buyback of the South American business.

The ECB might have a window of opportunity next week to start buying Italian and Spanish bonds as part of a so-called quantitative easing programme if an anti- bailout party wins the Greek election this weekend, said Nomura International.

Banco Santander SA and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria will set aside €4.5bn to meet a Spanish government order to boost real estate provisions as analysts speculate the industry may need more.

FRENCH President Nicolas Sarkozy’s government has outlined the country’s biggest budget deficit cut in two decades to calm investor concerns and protect its top credit rating.

IRISH bank shares plunged yesterday as funding issues persist and less signs of an economic turnaround are seen.

THE European Central Bank (ECB) said it will lend banks €111.2 billion for six days to help them cope with the expiry of its landmark 12-month loan.

THE High Court yesterday put troubled finance firm Structured Credit Company (SCC) into examinership on the basis that it still had a chance of surviving.

RECEIVERS have been appointed to a Dublin-listed investment fund hit by the collapse of the subprime mortgage market.

TROUBLED Dublin-based financial firm Structured Credit Company will continue to have the protection of the High Court until September 5.

Financier Guy Hands came a step closer to landing music group EMI today after US company Warner Music ruled out a bid for the firm.