Around 2,300 retail jobs in Ireland and the UK were under threat tonight after it emerged administrators had failed to secure a buyer for the Principles chain.

The FTSE 100 plunged more than 3% into the red today as fears over a worsening global recession ensured a gloomy end to the trading week.

Some of the UK’s best-known fashion brands could be returned to private ownership after details of a £400m (€568m) takeover move emerged today.

The first phase of a massive new shopping centre development has opened in the Dundrum area of Dublin today.

Over 4,000 new jobs will be created tomorrow as the country’s largest shopping centre throws open its doors.

Luxury retailer Harvey Nichols is to create 200 jobs at its new boutique branch in south Dublin, it emerged today.

Fashion chains Principles and Warehouse are on the brink of a sale that will land their owners a £130m (€187.8m) pay-day, it was reported today.

Designer label store BT2, an offshoot of the popular Brown Thomas, will be drawing fashion-conscious shoppers to Wilton, Cork.

Takeover target Marks & Spencer is to return £2.3bn (€3.4bn) of cash to shareholders and focus on its core business as part of a strategy unveiled by chief executive Stuart Rose today.