THE aggressive move by Bank of Scotland, Ireland (BOSI) for dominance of the Irish business banking market is expected to force the AIB and Bank of Ireland to pay more interest on current accounts, according to some Irish brokers.

THE raising of €507 million by Bank of Ireland is a prelude to an acquisition in Britain or an optimisation of the bank’s capital efficiency, depending on which of the main stockbrokers you listen to.

FIRST ACTIVE is to make a pre-tax exceptional gain of close to €40 million following the sale of its remaining stake in Britannic Money plc for €108.7m.

FIRST Active is still a buy according to Goodbody Stockbrokers, who predict its share price will hit €5.50.

BANK OF IRELAND risks pushing its share price lower when it publishes details of its spurned bid to take over Britain's sixth biggest bank, Abbey National, Goodbody Stockbrokers warned yesterday.

BANK OF IRELAND is still very much in the race to take over Abbey National despite the slamming of the gate on a buyout by the board of Britain’s sixth-biggest bank yesterday.