AVERAGE mortgage repayments for a first-time buyer have fallen €513 or 43% a month since July last year.

HOMEOWNERS are facing a year of interest rate hikes and plunging house prices as banks look to claw back losses.

AIB is increasing the rates on some of its fixed-rate mortgage products with homeowners being urgedto take advantage of historically low interest rates.

Boeing's chief executive officer said that outsourcing production of parts for the 787 jetliner to manufacturers worldwide remains a good plan, despite four production delays and costly penalties.

The curtain has been raised on the first fully assembled Boeing 787 Dreamliner jet to an audience of thousands in the company’s plant in the US.

Disappointed investors sent stocks tumbling today after the Federal Reserve said it would keep to its policy of raising interest rates at a ”measured” pace.

Brian O’ Mahony,