ALLIED Irish Banks, the country’s second-largest bank by assets, has a market value bigger than UBS and Barclays, even after its third bailout by the Government.

THE €24 million sale of Allied Irish Bank’s stockbroking unit, Goodbody Holdings Ltd, is expected to be completed in the coming weeks after the Central Bank approved the transaction.

IRISH bank officials are working with their British and US counterparts to counter the threat of a new computer virus which can empty customers’ accounts while covering its tracks by showing the customer fake bank balances.

AIB’s detailed stress test figures may be a “significant blow” to the lender’s efforts to raise capital, NCB Stockbrokers said.