Eurozone businesses ramped up activity this month as the European Central Bank started printing money to spur economic growth, while a slowdown among Chinese factories fuelled expectations of more monetary stimulus.

An unexpected drop in eurozone inflation raises pressure on the ECB to consider fresh policy action next week to counter deflation risks and support a weak recovery that may be running out of steam.

The survivors of the ‘battle of Christchurch’ gathered in Dublin on Saturday night to swap old war stories.

Former Bloxham economist Joe Gill claims that “when the euro was launched in 1999 every dog in the street knew that economic management in core Europe was far more disciplined than around its fringes” (Irish Examiner 19/9/12).

Phoenix Energy has agreed to sell its gas supply business to rival power firm Airtricity.

A poll of golf writers at this week’s Ryder Cup overwhelmingly points to Europe winning back the trophy on Sunday.

A troubled water company in the North at the heart of a long-running investigation into the awarding of contracts could be scrapped, Northern Ireland’s regional development minister warned today.

An investigation into the alleged misconduct of a senior civil servant in the North will be carried out by a retired leading official in the Welsh Assembly, it was announced today.

A senior civil servant suspended over a scandal linked to the North's government-owned water company was not made a scapegoat, his minister insisted today.

The North’s main political parties are at loggerheads tonight over a government scandal that has forced the suspension of a top civil servant.

Gas users in the North were today hit with another substantial price hike, as Phoenix Natural Gas announced that it was putting up prices by 14.5% from Sunday.

The British government was today urged to provide financial aid to help some families in the North who are facing gas price increases of almost 30%.