Last week saw the final ECB meeting of 2019 and the first one with Christine Lagarde as president. The meeting itself was largely uneventful.

Global economic concerns have been very much to the forefront of the market discourse over the past number of weeks.

Last Friday’s UK GDP data for the second quarter of the year provided further evidence that Brexit-related uncertainty is acting as a headwind to the British economy.

The meeting last week of the US Federal Reserve saw the central bank cut interest rates for the first time since 2008, writes John Fahey.

The ECB meeting last week provided a clear signal that the central bank was moving towards introducing new policy easing measures.

The Bank of England’s monetary policy setting meeting last week ended, as expected, with no changes to policy.

Sterling and shares brushed aside the UK local election results as investors focused on the potential fallout from the European Parliament elections later this month.

The Federal Reserve open market committee last week as expected left US interest rates unchanged but indicated it does not envisage hiking US interest rates this year.

A university is the most popular cycle destination in Ireland.

Last week’s Bank of England meeting saw the central bank leave its key rate unchanged at 0.75%.

The second half of this year is likely to provide further evidence that global monetary policy is gradually shifting into a tightening phase.

Financial markets have continued to encounter a more volatile trading environment.

The November meeting of the US Federal Reserve, back at the start of the month, saw the Central Bank maintain the target range for the fed funds rate at 1%-1.25%. The decision to leave rates unchanged was unanimous.

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting last week concluded with the central bank increasing interest rates for the first time since July 2007.

The July meeting of the US Federal Reserve concluded last week as expected, with no changes to monetary policy. The Central Bank maintained the target range for the federal funds rate at 1%-1.25%.

A man was being questioned by gardaí in Co Tipperary last night over the suspected hit-and-run death of a pedestrian at the weekend.

Last week’s ECB meeting concluded, as expected, with the central bank leaving its key interest rates unchanged at -0.4% for the deposit rate and 0% for the refinancing rate.

The most recent official growth statistics on the Irish economy were released last week.

The performance of the global economy has tended to disappoint versus expectations in recent years, struggling for sustained upward momentum.

All the signs are that the global economy is entering 2017 with increasing momentum, with numerous indicators pointing to a strengthening of activity in key economies.

Last week’s November meeting of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) concluded in line with market expectations for no changes to policy.

Last week’s meeting of the US Federal Reserve concluded, as expected, with the Central Bank maintaining the key fed funds rate at 0.375% for a fourth consecutive meeting.

The most recent GDP data for the UK economy indicates that the pace of growth has eased slightly. It slowed from 0.7% in the second quarter to 0.5% in quarter three, on a quarterly basis. In year-on-year terms, GDP has slowed from its 3% rate registered in 2014, although at 2.3% it remains solid.

That much anticipated September meeting last week concluded with the Federal Reserve erring on the side of caution by not increasing interest rates.

John Fahey was present at the Convention Centre when David Burke’s name was called out at left corner-forward on the 2012 All Star team.

While the recent uncertainty in relation to Greece has generated much negative newsflows for the eurozone, the underlying macro data indicate that the eurozone economy is on an improving trajectory, writes John Fahy.

The Bank of England is taking a patient approach in its deliberations in relation to the timing and extent of interest rate increases, writes John Fahy.

The recovery in the eurozone economy has gained momentum since last autumn.

As expected, last week’s US Federal Reserve’s March meeting statement dropped the reference to the Fed being ‘patient’ in regard to increasing interest rates. 

The Irish housing market has shown clear signs of recovery over the past year. The pick-up in the domestic economy, including the improvement in the labour market has helped to provide a supportive environment.

A Fine Gael councillor from Co Kilkenny has defended the fact that she received fees and expenses totalling almost €57,000 since Apr 2010 in her role as a member of the governing body of Waterford Institute of Technology.

Drug cheats will face a minimum four-year ban instead of two years after rule changes ratified by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president John Fahey says it would take something “close to a miracle” for Lance Armstrong to have his lifetime ban from cycling reduced even if he co-operated with an inquiry into doping.

As expected, last week’s meeting of the ECB’s governing council saw no change to interest rate policy, with the main refi rate remaining at 0.5%.

The UK economy has experienced a marked improvement in 2013, with growth picking up in the first half of the year, after it stagnated last year.

Activity in the Irish construction industry has continued to fall, new figures have indicated.

The construction sector remains deep in recession, although there are signs that the pace of contraction is slowing, according to the latest Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index.

Activity in the Irish construction industry has continued to fall, new figures have indicated.

FIFA has committed to carrying out blood tests for banned drugs at next year’s World Cup and biological profiling for all players at the tournament which can indicate doping.