Over the last several weeks the issue of Brexit has been consuming many column inches, not just here, but across global print and electronic media.

Bank of Ireland looks set to resist pressure to cut its most expensive mortgage rates despite growing political pressure and significant moves by its biggest competitor earlier this week.

The Federal Reserve’s debate over whether to raise US interest rates in June may be decided soon, as investors look for any cracks in China and evidence of a solid start to the second quarter in the US.

The high costs banks charge for their variable rate mortgages are driving home buyers to choose fixed rate home loans, Central Bank figures suggest.

Ireland’s unemployment fell to 8.6% in January — the lowest rate for more than seven years and down from a crisis peak of 15.1% in February 2012 — but remains only around the mid-table of the EU’s jobless performance league.

The dollar climbed to a seven-month high against the euro as the rate of US inflation increased in October, fuelling speculation the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates from near zero as soon as next month.

Britain’s unemployment rate fell to its lowest level since early 2008 but earnings grew more slowly than expected, showing why the Bank of England is in no hurry to raise interest rates.

A Bank of England policymaker said UK interest rates need to rise “relatively soon” as wages pick up, adding to signs that support is gradually building for the first increase in British borrowing costs since before the financial crisis.

The news from central bankers in the past week suggests that the US Federal Reserve may be closer than markets think to hiking rates, while the Bank of England seems content to wait until next spring before it starts to tighten policy.

The euro surged against sterling yesterday after the Bank of England unexpectedly signalled that a possible rise in interest rates will be later rather than sooner.

One of the leading global credit rating agencies has given a broad endorsement to plans that could see courts given the power to limit the rates banks charge standard variable rate mortgage customers.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has said a 2.5% rise in the corporation tax rate would reduce inward investment by nearly 10%.

There will be a backlash from the markets if the ECB does not give clear guidance on unconventional measures to stimulate growth in the region allied to an interest rate cut.