FYFFES warned yesterday that its 2007 earnings were likely to be lower than expected due to an increase in fuel prices and higher than anticipated losses at its Brazilian joint venture, Nolem.

GLOBAL economic growth will keep oil prices rising to 2010 and the price per barrel could go above $100 (€78.50) per barrel in the meantime, according to an Irish oil analyst.

A DISPUTE broke out at the High Court yesterday over whether lawyers for Fyffes plc should have produced certain documents which, DCC claims, are crucial to and supportive of its denial of allegations that it breached insider dealing provisions of the Companies Act in relation to a €106 million sale of the DCC stake in Fyffes in February 2000.