A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Industrial employment up by 2,900
Industrial employment grew by 2,900 to 241,500 in 2006, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Average earnings in the industrial sector also jumped by 5.3 per cent, bringing the average weekly wage to €623.69 by December, while the average number of industrial hours worked a week remained unchanged at 40.5.
The CSO data also said that workers in the electricity, gas and water supply sector were among the highest- paid industrial employees, earning an average of €1,186 a week by December.
Phishing attempt on AIB customers
AIB customers have been the target of an attempted fraud this week, forcing the bank to issue a new warning on its website reminding customers not to respond to e-mails requesting their personal log-in information.
E-mails were circulated purporting to be from AIB and asked customers to follow a link to a website and reconfirm their internet banking registration number and full personal access code.
This type of fraud, known as phishing, has become increasingly common.
An AIB spokesman said the site was quickly closed down and no customers had suffered any financial losses.
Sub-prime lender has new mortgage
Sub-prime lender Start Mortgages has launched a new mortgage product called FlexiStart. The product is aimed at the self- employed and those with irregular incomes who find it difficult to get a mortgage from traditional lenders.
FlexiStart mortgages can be taken out for up to 40 years. Interest rates start from 5.35 per cent.
LSE confident of strong results
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) says it has continued to perform well and is confident of a strong result for the current financial year. "Our prospects for the year ahead are excellent as strong business fundamentals continue to drive strong growth," chief executive Clara Furse said yesterday, in a trading update on its financial year to March 31st.
The LSE, Europe's largest share market, successfully fended off a hostile £2.7 billion (€4 billion) bid from Nasdaq Stock Market Inc in February. LSE shares closed at 1,261p on Wednesday, valuing it at about £2.67 billion. Nasdaq, which holds a 28.75 per cent stake in the London bourse, had offered 1,243p per share.
Endesa takeover set for court
Rival bidders for Endesa said yesterday they would take the battle to Spain's high court, the latest in a series of lawsuits threatening to bog down the battle to control Spain's largest utility.
German group E.ON asked the court to block a takeover bid from Italian utility Enel and Spanish construction group Acciona that rivals its €42.3 billion offer. Acciona in turn challenged a decision by market regulator CNMV to block its joint offer with Enel for six months.
