AIB ALL-IRELAND CLUB SFC FINAL:

Paradise Madison’s ability remains fully intact and the Derby is now firmly in his sights.

OLLIE Bray can begin to dream of further Derby glory after the powerfully built Royal Patrol confirmed his standing as one of Ireland’s most exciting young trackers with a superb last grasp victory in the ECC Timber Open 550 at Shelbourne Park on Saturday night.

BEST Bargain got off the mark at an appropriate moment when leading home a one/two for trainer Niall Dunne and owner Pat Dalton in the final of the Willie Cummins Unraced Stake at Curraheen Park on Saturday night.

All-Ireland medals are loose change in Kerry and indeed similar could be said of Crossmaglen with the All-Ireland club successes that have come their way.

BETTER-than-expected growth figures in Germany for the first three quarters of 2006 have raised the prospect of ECB rates hitting 4% in 2007, pushing them to their highest level in four years.

European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet today reemphasised the case for higher interest rates in the Eurozone.

THE ongoing oil crisis spilled over into a war of words yesterday between Aer Lingus and Ryanair.

RISING oil prices will damage the US dollar, a leading economist warned yesterday.

Ian Guider

THE odds of an ECB interest rate hike to dampen the Christmas spirit have shortened considerably leading economists warned.

POOR consumer confidence figures in the US knocked the markets sideways yesterday as the worst figures in two years spooked investors.

AFTER 18 years as chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan will retire on January 31, 2006, from the most powerful banking job in the world.

EUROPEAN Central Bank chiefs issued a stern warning yesterday on inflation, raising prospects of higher interest rates.

DUBLIN’S ISEQ index went into record territory early yesterday but ended the day up 23 points at 6,864. Its last record close was towards the end of July, when the Index hit 6956.

EUROPEAN interest rates could face a hike of 0.25% within six months, a leading economist warned yesterday.

A stronger euro, a higher cost of debt and slower global economic growth are likely in the months ahead, according to the Ulster Bank mid-year outlook report released today.

THE going will get tough for Irish business in the months ahead, Ulster Bank warned yesterday.

WORLD oil prices touched $66 yesterday, creating a fresh record and continuing the two-year upward spiral that has plagued financial markets with threats of a global economic slowdown.

HOMEOWNERS have been urged to fix their mortgage interest rates now by one of the country’s leading economists.

THE dollar rallied further against the euro yesterday despite poor data from the US in recent days.

HAVING hit a nine-month low on Monday against the dollar, the euro fell further to $1.2041 yesterday despite earlier gains.

FEARS that French voters will vote No to the EU Constitution has kept the dollar strong for the fifth week in a row against the euro.

THE dollar struck a two-month high against the euro yesterday, driven by the belief the US Federal Reserve may introduce a tough interest rate regime.

EUROPE is facing higher interest rates and a weaker euro as US inflationary pressures pave the way for US interest rate hikes, economists warned last night.

Conor Keane, Business Correspondent

Long-term interest rates are set to rise sharply in the year ahead, by as much as 0.5% by year end, according to Ulster Bank’s Focus for March 2005.

Brian O’Mahony, Chief Business Correspondent

UNCERTAINTY about the future direction of the US dollar has entered the market in the past few days leading to fluctuations in the greenback’s value.

FURTHER record lows were reached by the dollar yesterday as the once mighty greenback fell to $1.3383 to the euro.

IT was another difficult day for the dollar and oil prices on global markets yesterday.

Niall Dunne of Ulster Bank today compared the economic situation in the 1970s with the present day, and concluded that Irish businesses will face a weaker dollar and higher interest rates in the near future, just as they did 30 years ago.

THE markets stepped up their continuing vote of no confidence in the dollar yesterday, as the greenback fell to new lows against the euro and exporters were warned of worse to come.

THE victory of US President George W Bush will do nothing to defuse concerns about oil prices experts have warned.

WORLD stock markets rallied yesterday afternoon as President George W Bush moved towards victory in the US presidential election.

RECORD oil prices and the underlying inflationary threat suggests the US Federal Reserve will continue to raise rates in the months ahead.

WORSE than expected trade data from America caused the dollar to sink by 1.5 cent against the euro yesterday.

RISING oil prices will force the US Federal Reserve into a dilemma over interest rates if the current trend persists.

INTEREST rates in the US may not be increased next week as expected after the dollar tumbled yesterday following the release of US non-farm payroll report for the month.

SIGNS of sluggish growth in the eurozone will not be enough to prevent interest rates rising towards the end of the year, homeowners were warned yesterday.

BRITAIN'S Monetary Policy Committee's decision to hold interest rates at 4.5% yesterday had little impact on the euro/sterling exchange rate.

THE US Federal Reserve is expected to increase interest rates for the first time in more than four years when the Open Market Committee meets next Wednesday.

BRITISH homeowners could pay a big bounty for England’s progress in Euro 2004 if the Bank of England raises interest rates to curb the splurge on booze, TVs and football regalia.