To date, 2018 is turning out to be a very interesting year in terms of economics, financial markets and politics, but there is a remarkable sense of calm in financial markets. On the economic front the very strong momentum evident during 2017 has undoubtedly experienced a bit of a speed wobble. Growth virtually everywhere has…
Double digit price growth amid on-going big supply shortfall AIB Treasury Economic Research Unit March 2018 Upward pressure on prices continues amid persistent supply deficit The latest data on house prices from the CSO show a further acceleration in the rate of growth at the start of the year. Nationally, prices rose by 12.5% in year-on-year…
March 2009 was a pivotal month for global equity markets. After a horrendous period following the implosion of the US sub-prime market and the global economy, that month markets decided that enough was enough and that equities had fallen as much as they should. Despite subsequent massive global economic problems almost everywhere; the implosion of…
About Flexi-Mortgage Friday 9th February 2018 ICS Mortgages launched a unique Buy-to-Let product called Flexi-Mortgage which comes with a 35-year term and allows customers split their repayments between Interest Only and full Capital and Interest repayments over the term of the loan. Customers can choose an Interest Only term of between 1 and 10 years…
2018 – A year of Promise? Points to Note Over recent years giving investment advice has in theory been extremely difficult for those who have to do it. In practice it has of course been much more straightforward – just buy equity markets, simple as. Equity markets have basically delivered very strong gains since…
When the ‘Civil Partnership & Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010’ (Civil Partnership Act) was passed, it created the legal status of civil partnership for same-sex couples. This meant that the property and financial entitlements that previously only applied to married couples would now apply to registered civil partners. However the Act only…
Brexit uncertainty and Global corporation tax threaten a positive forecast for Ireland in 2018; Rising house prices create economic vulnerability as debt levels In the latest Friends First Economic Outlook ‘2018: Strong tail winds and some head winds’, published today Jim Power, chief economist at Friends First, forecasts full year GDP growth of 4.8% for 2017,…
Prices accelerating amid continuing supply shortfall AIB Treasury Economic Research Unit Sept 2017 Double-digit house price growth again After slowing to 5.5% in June 2016, annual house price inflation has been on a strong upward trend since then. The CSO data on residential property prices show that the pace of growth has quickened over recent…
Last night, the Taoiseach gave a speech to the employers’ group IBEC to announce an upcoming national pension plan that will look to start by 2021. In this speech he said: ‘Another priority is to ensure that more people in work make provision for decent pensions when they retire. This issue has been long-fingered…
First health insurer to cover Affidea Express Care centres and offer reduced rate for consultations Some great news for all Irish Life Health members From later this year Irish Life Health members will have access to treatment in the new Affidea Express Care Clinics at a reduced rate of €100, which is a 33%…