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

EBS offers new travel insurance

EBS Building Society has introduced a new travel insurance policy for people who already have health insurance, a policy for people aged 65 and over, and a backpackers' policy.

EBS is the latest travel insurance provider to follow a precedent set by VHI, which launched a cheap travel insurance policy in 2004 on the basis that the cover would not double up on the overseas benefits its customers already had on its hospital plans.

Premiums for private health insurance start at €8 for single trips, while premiums for the over 65s policy start at €23.

Equities popular at Standard Life

Demand for equity-based products at Standard Life has leapt over the past six months, according to the company. Head of marketing Brendan Barr said equity-based products now accounted for almost half of the total investments it sells in the Republic, up from about 30 per cent.

The statement comes as the Irish Association of Investment Managers announced a "very strong" influx of new business among its members in 2005, with a further €2.8 billion invested last year, an increase of 51 per cent on the previous year, and taking the number of assets under management to €27.4 billion.

Irish Nationwide raises interest rate

Irish Nationwide has increased the interest rate it pays on its two-year fixed-rate bond account to 7 per cent, or an annual rate of 3.44 per cent. Interest on the bond account, which has a minimum investment requirement of €20,000, can be paid monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or annually. One withdrawal of up to 10 per cent can be made after the first year.