International business appeared almost impervious to the huge political tensions in Korea and the Gulf, as global shares soared and the rich got richer, writes Kyran Fitzgerald.

The quantum leap in financial services exports in the first half of the year is an early indicator that Ireland could be positioned for a major Brexit bonus. The 25% growth in financial services exports was a notable feature.

US stocks edged higher today as technology companies and banks rose with the Standard & Poor's 500 index closing above 2,500 for the first time as stocks had one of their best weeks this year.

Former French president François Hollande and former US vice president Al Gore will speak at this year’s Web Summit, Europe’s largest tech event.

US stock indexes nudged higher today after energy companies clawed back some of their sharp losses from earlier in the week.

The top firms in California’s Silicon Valley carry more weight on the global stage than many countries, which makes building diplomatic relations with them increasingly important, the world’s first national technology ambassador has said.

Here's your lunchtime news bulletin.

The main Irish subsidiary of US technology giant Oracle went into the red last year in spite of revenues increasing by 8% to €8.7bn.

For more than a century, the Bourke family have worked for Ford in Ireland in some way — four generations since 1910.

Joe Dermody reports on leading Cork financial advisors and solicitors whose business clients are looking to open new offices in the UK to overcome post-Brexit challenges.

US stocks held steady on Wall Street and bond prices gave back some of their big gains from Wednesday as a rally fuelled by the Federal Reserve's announcement on interest rates faded.

It’s time to put up or shut up in cloud software.

Google’s Android software has just dodged a $9bn bullet.

The main Irish subsidiary of US software and hardware giant Oracle last year paid corporation tax of €39m on international revenues of €8.14bn.

A former partner in leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm Sequoia Capital has countersued a woman who claimed he sexually abused her for more than a decade, arguing she was trying to extort $40 million from him.

Google paid technology firm Apple $1bn (€923m) in 2014 to keep its search bar as the default option on the iPhone and iPad, it has been claimed.

Dublin received a double jobs boost with computer technology giant Oracle and Irish medical technology company 3D4Medical yesterday announcing a combined 520 full-time positions.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

The global investment landscape has been transformed since 2009.

Computer maker Dell has clinched a record $67bn (€59bn) technology deal to buy data storage company EMC.

They are some of the biggest brains in technology and they have serious money behind them. Their mission now is to end old age and achieve immortality says Rita de Brun.

Industry-ready computer and software students have never been more employable, say the organisers of a skills showcase at National College of Ireland.

The main Irish subsidiary of US software and hardware giant Oracle last year paid corporation tax of €58m as revenues topped €7.85bn.

The world’s richest person got even richer this year. Bill Gates’s net worth rose to $79.2bn in 2015 from $76bn last year, Forbes said.

Global management consulting and technology services company Accenture is to create 250 jobs here by the end of August while a sales firm is to create 100 jobs in Dundalk.

Accenture is set to hire around 250 people into its workforce in Ireland by September this year.

New scientific research on healing the body from within, may revolutionise the way we age, says Áilín Quinlan.

Leading Irish IT consulting and managed services provider, Version-1, has continued its “aggressive” acquisition-led growth strategy by purchasing a UK company for an undisclosed sum.

Henry Jolicoeur is a retired French Canadian hypnotherapist and a glass-products importer who enjoys making very low-budget documentary films

USA: One is a building with bars. The other is a building with a bar. A very drunk woman apparently had trouble telling them apart and ended up in a southwestern Michigan jail cell-

An organisation that denies it pays bonuses — but admits its staff can earn "performance related awards".

EMC, the maker of storage computers, facing the retirement of chief executive Joseph Tucci and activist pressure, is exploring strategic options that could include a full or partial sale, or a spinoff of VMware Inc.

Warren Buffett may be most famous for the billions of dollars he has made from investing but he is also well known as a cheerleader for the United States.

Hewlett-Packard chief executive Meg Whitman is benefiting from a surge in PC sales. Now she needs to show she can make progress in other businesses, including software and services.

EMC needs to convince investors that keeping the company together is worth more than the estimated $10bn (€7.4bn) that could be unlocked in a breakup.

Apple suppliers in China will begin mass production of its largest iPhones ever next month, according to people familiar with the plans, as the smartphone maker faces increased competition.

Representatives of some of the world’s biggest corporations and institutions are among Ireland’s most powerful women, according to an awards ceremony organised by the Women’s Executive Network.

The woes of a bruised coalition Government and fears of another property bubble may just throw the Green Party a lifeline and help get party leader Eamon Ryan elected to Europe.

The main Irish subsidiary of US software and hardware giant Oracle had a 21% drop in pre-tax profits to €164.4m last year in spite of revenues increasing to €7.24bn.

Aer Lingus have launched a new route between Dublin and San Francisco.