THE level of IPO activity — basically firms looking to float on the stock exchange — has all but dried up in this part of the world, with only 50 such moves being made during the first three months of this year and most activity coming from emerging territories.

Irish firms have invested €29.77m in venture capital in the third quarter of 2007. according to the Quarterly European Venture Capital Report by Ernst & Young and Dow Jones VentureOne.

INWARD investment to Ireland increased by 10% last year, according to the latest Ernst & Young report.