Technology firm IBM has confirmed that it will cut 190 jobs from its server manufacturing business in Mulhuddart in west Dublin as it moves the positions to China. The move has been flagged for some time and it is understood that IBM will try to redeploy as many of the affected workers as possible.

Bill Gates’ successor as Microsoft’s Chief Software Architect, Ray Ozzie, is leaving the company after five years. In an e-mail sent to Microsoft employees, chief executive officer Steve Ballmer announced the change, saying Ozzie will stay with Microsoft for an undefined transition period. Mr Ballmer said the company is not looking for a replacement. He [...]

Leading healthcare firm Hollister is to create 250 jobs in the west of Ireland, it was revealed today. The medical devices company is to invest €65m at its manufacturing plant in Ballina, Co Mayo. Batt O’Keeffe, Enterprise Minister, said the expansion will have an enormous economic impact on the region. “Hollister has been part of [...]

Shares rose today after minutes from the latest Federal Reserve meeting kept hope alive that the central bank would take more action to stimulate the US economy. The Fed had said after its September 21 meeting that it was concerned that inflation was too low, and suggested it could step up its purchases of government [...]

Ryanair may quit its base in the French city of Marseille because of a case filed by French prosecutors addressing work practices. A French newspaper quotes Michael O’Leary as saying the airline may announce alternative plans, which would involve closing its Mediterranean hub in Marseille and relocating it outside France. It comes after prosecutors in [...]

Interest charges for Irish debt have stabilized this morning, following a worrying day on the markets yesterday. It follows positive comments from the European Economics Commissioner Olli Rehn, endorsing the Government’s handling of the financial crisis, and the actions being taken on Anglo Irish Bank. Irish 10-year bonds are coming with a yield of around [...]

HMV today said its UK and Ireland sales slumped nearly 15% after the World Cup slowed the pipeline of new releases and the gaming market remained weak. Despite the drop in like-for-like sales for the 19 weeks to September 4, the entertainment products retailer said its stores were in good shape ahead of the peak [...]

Australian lager giant Foster’s has rebuffed an unsolicited private equity approach for its wine business worth between AUS$2.3bn and AUS$2.7bn Australian dollars. Foster’s said a demerger of the Treasury Wine Estates arm would offer the “best outcome” for shareholders.

Lego has been busy building its profits over the last six months, it has emerged. It has seen a 34% increase in sales over the last half-year, with profits before tax of €214m – up from €124m in same period last year. The company says growth has been particularly high in the USA and Eastern [...]

Ryanair has announced that it is going to cut its services at Shannon Airport by a fifth from the beginning of November, which will be 20%. The low-fares airline is to close its Shannon to Paris route and it will reduce frequency on routes to London Gatwick and London Stansted. The airline’s chief executive, Michael [...]