A round-up of today's other stories in brief.

Tullamore medical plant may be sold

Medical device group Boston Scientific is considering the sale of its fluid management business which employs about 240 people in Tullamore, Co Offaly.

The company, which earlier this week reported quarterly figures that were dragged down by poor sales of its coronary stents, is conducting a review of its assets, and is understood to be in early discussion with a number of prospective buyers.

Northern Rock deposits grow 6%

Savings at Northern Rock's Irish operation have grown almost 6 per cent in the first half of the year to €2.3 billion.

Across all of its deposit products, Irish savers have deposited €131 million in new funds with the British bank since the start of the year.

Punchestown says day means €15m

The Kildare area is expected to win a benefit of up to €15 million from a planned extension to the Punchestown National Hunt racing festival.

The racecourse yesterday announced that it plans to add an extra day to the festival from next April. This will bring the event to five days from four.

Punchestown said yesterday that it expects the move to bring an extra €15 million into the local economy.

This would bring the overall payoff from the festival to the area to almost €70 million, as the current format is reckoned to be worth €52 million.

Ryanair to fly from Belfast

Ryanair is to commence a series of services to Britain using George Best Belfast City Airport.

The airline will serve Glasgow Prestwick, Liverpool and East Midlands from October, with further routes to continental Europe to be announced within the year.

Dow Jones deal hits uncertainty

Rupert Murdoch's chances of succeeding in his $5 billion (€3.65 billion) bid for the Wall Street Journal owner Dow Jones remained uncertain last night, with the market expecting resolution of the matter by the end of the week.

The Bancroft family, who between them own 64 per cent of voting shares in Dow Jones, hold the key to the takeover and many of the 35-strong group are reportedly opposed to it.

The Bancroft shares are held within more than 100 trusts, a structure that makes it difficult to predict the outcome of the Murdoch bid.

Genzyme reports profits jump

Genzyme, the US biotech company that employs almost 400 people in Waterford, has reported an 18 per cent jump in profits to $933.3 million (€681 million) for the three months to the end of June.

The group said net earnings rose to $139.9 million, or 51 cents a share, from $134.5 million, or 49 cents, a year ago.