THE Government will have to invest billions in the republic’s banks to offset huge losses on property backed loans, according to banking experts.

DON’T write the economy off just yet was the message this week from Bank of Ireland.

AIB warned yesterday house prices could fall by 2% from their present levels by the year end.

AVERAGE house prices for first-time buyers are set to break the €250,000 barrier for the first time as the property market shows no sign of weakening.

NEW research suggests that house buyers are not financially stretched despite taking out huge mortgages.

Mortgage lender PermanentTSB has signed a deal with technology distributor Calyx Voice to replace existing telephone systems in its 113 branches.

House price increases have slowed considerably so far this year, according to the latest Permanenttsb house price index.

IRISH Life and Permanent reported a 10% fall in after tax profits for 2003 yesterday after a €47 million loss on the sale of its last American business.

HOUSE prices grew by just 0.5% in January, their slowest rate in a year, the latest survey of prices nationally shows.

HOUSE prices in Dublin grew by less than 1% in the final three months of last year, but the average home in the city now costs just shy of €340,000.

A NEW low-rate personal loan from An Post aims to undercut the main banks’ offerings by several percentage points. One Direct, the profitable financial wing of An Post is introducing a new personal loan with an annualised percentage rate (APR) of 7.75%.

CENTRAL Bank vigilance on lending for house purchase has been fully backed by a leading estate agent as fears over a house price bubble grows.

THE company that provided the controversial “drink link” in a Kerry pub has said it’s providing the service at no extra charge — for now.