Compiled by Laura Slattery.
Quote of the Week . . .
"It's one of the seven wonders of the world - it's just incredible."
- Apple chief executive Steve Jobs reveals that he has spent too much time indoors as he immodestly describes the new touch-screen, connection-free iPod. Apple's marketing machine is thought to be the eighth wonder.
The Numbers
1,800Number of jobs lost in the construction industry between the end of February and the end of May, according to official figures from the Central Statistics Office.
€44,000The sum gambled on Betfair by interest rate watchers taking bets on whether the European Central Bank would increase interest rates or if market turmoil would force it to leave them alone. Those who had money on there being no change collected at the shortened odds of 1-6.
39 millionNumber of member profiles on Facebook that anybody using a search engine will be able to discover if the social networking site goes ahead with its plans to open up its website.
Good Week . . .
Fans of musical theatreThe off-Broadway musical satire Walmartopia has opened in New York, telling the story of underpaid female Wal-Mart employees exiled to a bleak future in which the smiley-faced discount retailer rules the world. In exploring the anti-union stance of the US's largest private employer through the medium of song, Walmartopia begs the question: when are we going to see Ryanair: The Musical?
Paddy PowerA string of losing favourites in racing, rugby and golf and defeats for well-backed Irish horses in big meetings helped the bookmaker to double its profits to €43 million in the first half of 2007, as the winnings it paid out shrank.
Bad Week . . .
The European Central BankA carefully worded explanation of why the credit crunch forced it to abandon August's premature signal of a September rate increase couldn't quite dislodge the word "backtrack" from many people's minds.
Anglo Irish BankA terribly upbeat trading statement led to a rash of buy recommendations for Anglo. But the bank could have announced it had patented a new money tree and was immediately buying up land for mass afforestation and it still would have seen its share price sink, as the ongoing global banking crisis took its toll.
Quote of the Week 2 . . .
"I think everybody was caught slightly unawares about how quickly it came in. We have been fighting for Open Skies for 10 years and we have had many false dawns."
- Nigel Turner, chief executive of British airline BMI, claims the industry isn't ready for Open Skies, the treaty that gives European airlines unlimited access to the US from next March.
