Business

CMA to look at 'anti-competitive practices' in Northern Ireland's public transport services

Gary McDonald Business Editor

13 November, 2019

THE Competition & Markets Authority is looking at whether state operator Translink has a monopoly over bus and coach services in the north and is contributing to anti-competitive practices.

Records galore again - but north's labour market 'may have plateaued'

A DECADE-long recovery of the north's labour market may just have plateaued, a top economist believes.

Average price paid for a house rose to the highest level in over a decade during third quarter

THE north hit the highest average price paid for properties on the open market for more than a decade, new research from Ulster University has shown.

New £500,000 Novosco security operations centre creates 12 jobs

GERMAN-owned managed services firm Novosco has invested £500,000 in a dedicated security operations centre in Belfast which has added 12 jobs to its current 300-strong workforce.

Ulster Stores reports marginal rise in profits amid 'difficult year' for retail

THE company behind two of the best known department stores on the north coast has reported a marginal rise in its profits amid a challenging year for retail.

Markets

OPINION & ANALYSIS

Be prepared: a guide to joining the workforce

Barry Shannon

How local distilleries are constrained by licensing laws

Kirsty Mairs

Commercial property investment - a tale of two sectors

Stephen Chambers

Business news see all »

New scheme aimed at supporting rural businesses in the north west launched

A NEW scheme aimed at supporting rural businesses in the north west launches this week, offering capital support to assist with projects that contribute to sustaining rural communities.

New two storey restaurant next to Belfast City Airport is McDonald's 30th outlet in the north

THE north's first double storey McDonald's restaurant with dual lane drive-thru lanes, has opened close to Belfast City Airport.

Businesses feed into new regional growth strategy for mid Ulster and south west

COUNCILS from Tyrone, Fermanagh, Armagh and Down are developing a new regional economic strategy to help drive growth across the north.

Belfast medical tech firm launches sleep device on US crowdfunding platform

BELFAST tech firm Neurovalens has launched its new sleep improvement device on a crowdfunding platform.

Business Insight see all »

Future of shipyard more secure after suitors InfraStrata raise £6m

Gary McDonald Business Editor 12 Nov, 2019

BELFAST shipyard's future is seemingly more secure after a purchase deal by London-based InfraStrata moved a step closer yesterday.

E-commerce consultancy is going for Growth

12 Nov, 2019

ONE of the north's best-known e-commerce specialists plans to double its 14 strong workforce over the next 18 months by recruiting a range of new roles within its Belfast office.

Getting shirty at Victoria Square

12 Nov, 2019

SHIRT retailer Smyth & Gibson has launched a pop-up store at Belfast's Victoria Square centre, aimed at offering tailored collections primarily to the business sector.

UK economy avoids recession after return to growth in third quarter

12 Nov, 2019

THE UK economy avoided falling into a recession after UK gross domestic product (GDP) returned to growth in the third quarter.

Markets see all »

Blue Chips up as oil prices rally on back of Trump's threat to pull out of Iran deal

10 May, 2018

LONDON'S blue-chip index was lifted by a rally in oil prices following confirmation that the US is to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal.

Better bid for Shires gives FTSE a lift

Helen Cahill 25 Apr, 2018

THE FTSE 100 rose yesterday, supported by Shire's shares as the company received a revised takeover proposal from Takeda.

FTSE slips into red as strong pound compounds drop in retail

22 Mar, 2018

THE FTSE 100 dipped into the red yesterday, as a stronger pound compounded pain from a drop in retail stocks following a string of store closures and profit warnings at some of the UK's biggest chains.

Healthcare stocks in the red as Amazon plans to enter sector

Kalyeena Makortoff 01 Feb, 2018

THE FTSE 100 fell to a 2018 low yesterday, weighed down by pharmaceutical shares as investors fretted over industry disruption after Amazon revealed plans to enter the healthcare business.

Personal finance see all »

How best to sell shares in a trading company

Janette Burns 11 Nov, 2019

QUESTION: I'm in the process of selling my trading company.

Do you want to get your pension car back on the road?

Michael Kennedy 11 Nov, 2019

HAVE you noticed that software companies are now taking it upon themselves to update your phone without even asking permission? We get a message saying that they have installed the latest fancy update, and it is now in place on our phone - not that it makes any noticeable difference – and we forget about it, and get on with our day.

What lifestyle do you choose for retirement?

Michael Kennedy 04 Nov, 2019

THE Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has just come up with a range of scenarios to help people plan their lifestyle in retirement.

As UK corporation tax rate head for 17 per cent, should you incorporate?

Paddy Harty 04 Nov, 2019

Q: With the UK corporation tax rate heading for 17 per cent and the marginal income tax rate at 45 per cent, I want to incorporate my business as I am fed up paying a lot of tax in January and July.