Ireland’s fortunes could hardly have been more mixed in the two Laser single-handed classes on the opening day of the ISAF Sailing World Championships in Santander yesterday, as the hunt for a place at Rio 2016 heats up.

Everton last night finally signed Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku for a club-record fee of £28million (€35m).

Investors will this week be watching election results that could deal a blow to political parties who are key to reform efforts in the EU and could also fan instability in Ukraine.

Sun creams from three popular brands have failed to provide the protection they claim in tests by a consumer watchdog.

It is worrying that three popular sun creams failed a consumer watchdog skin protection test, the Irish Cancer Society has said.

David Moyes is certain Marouane Fellaini will prove to be a massive success at Manchester United.

Swansea’s Spanish stars face a daunting trip to Valencia in their first-ever Europa League group stage campaign as long-haul journeys to Russia, Moldova and northern Norway beckon for Tottenham.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has called on the Premier League to block Zeki Fryers' move to Tottenham and launch a full investigation into his departure from Standard Liege.

Alex Ferguson still believes in the romance of the FA Cup — and feels his team are the hottest date of all.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has called on the Premier League to block Zeki Fryers’ move to Tottenham and launch a full investigation into his departure from Standard Liege.

Tottenham have won the race to sign highly-rated Germany international Lewis Holtby from Schalke.

Scandal-hit Standard Chartered will pay a further $327m (€252.9m) to settle allegations that it breached sanctions with Iran.

Scandal-hit Standard Chartered today warned it expects to pay a total of $670m ($511.6m) to settle allegations that it breached sanctions with Iran.

Zenit St Petersburg last night completed the sensational capture of Brazilian forward Hulk from FC Porto on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee believed to be €50 million.

Royal Bank of Scotland is being investigated in the United States for possible breaches of sanctions with Iran, it emerged today.

Standard Chartered will make changes to its board of directors after the bank this week agreed a settlement with regulators over allegations that it hid transactions with the Iranian government.

What price a quiet life? Standard Chartered says $340m (€270m).

Standard Chartered shares continued to recover today following a tough defence against allegations that the bank covered up illegal dealings with Iran.

London mayor Boris Johnson has accused US regulators of acting in a “high-handed” way over Standard Chartered, and said criticism of British banks stems from envy of London as a financial centre.

Standard Chartered has seen £6bn (€7.46bn) wiped from its value amid fears it could lose its US banking licence after regulators branded the lender a “rogue institution” over its dealings with the Iranian government.

Standard Chartered has seen £6bn (€7.5bn) wiped from its value amid fears it could lose its US banking licence after regulators branded the lender a “rogue institution” over its dealings with the Iranian government.

The British banking industry was mired in fresh scandal today after Standard Chartered was branded a “rogue institution” for covering up billions of pounds of illegal transactions with the Iranian government.

A RETROSPECTIVE exhibition is often an admission the game is up, we may as well look back because there won’t be much point expecting anything new in the future.

Liverpool’s shirt sponsors intervened in the Luis Suarez row to express their “concerns” to the club.

Shedding 2,000 jobs, restoring shaken morale, changing a disastrous culture and rebuilding the bank’s battered business are just some of the difficulties incoming AIB chief executive David Duffy will have to overcome, reports Kyran Fitzgerald

Mounting evidence that the world economy is slowing sharply sent global stock markets spiralling down today.

French banking stocks drove another sell-off on world markets today amid renewed fears that Greece would default on its debts.

Intense fighting in Libya remained top of investors minds' today as stocks fell into the red once more on rising oil prices.

Robert Mugabe has threatened to seize British businesses in retaliation for Western economic sanctions targeting him and his supporters over alleged human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

The London market was dragged down today by fears over the impact higher oil prices will have on inflation and global economic growth.

The London market fluctuated today ahead of a decision by the US Federal Reserve on how they intend to stimulate economic recovery.

London’s blue-chip share index failed to make headway today despite a recovery from bank stocks as fears over capital raisings eased.

IRELAND’S credit rating may be cut by Moody’s Investors Service after the Government pledged as much as €50 billion to save the country’s banks.

Liverpool forward Milan Jovanovic is contemplating leaving the club just two months into the season.

THE Irish arm of financial services giant Standard Life generated a 17% year-on-year increase in life and pension sales in the first half of this year.

Central bankers failed to soothe the nerves of investors today after key reports highlighted the global economy's fragile recovery prospects.

A late rally rescued a lacklustre session for investors today as financial markets gave a lukewarm response to the new coalition government.

The FTSE 100 Index suffered an uncertain session today as traders digested mixed messages on the economic recovery.

Asian-facing bank Standard Chartered today hailed a "very strong" start to the year with first quarter profits hitting a new record.

Standard Life today announced better than expected profits and said it planned to target a further £100m (€109m) of efficiency savings by 2012.

The London market ended the week in the doldrums today as economic woes continued to haunt the eurozone.

Standard Life bucked a slide for the FTSE 100 Index today after cheering investors with its latest sales figures.