A look at today's other stories in brief
Second-hand house prices rising by 7.6%
Sherry FitzGerald, the estate agents, said yesterday the average price of a second-hand property in Ireland rose by 7.6 per cent during the opening quarter of 2006. This follows growth of 17.3 per cent during 2005, an indication of the continued buoyancy of demand for residential property.
The pace of inflation in the Dublin second-hand market however was notably stronger at 11.2 per cent for the first quarter, bringing the rate of increase to 30.5 per cent for the 12 months to March 2006.
Commenting on the results Marian Finnegan, chief economist, Sherry FitzGerald group said: "After the exceptional performance during 2005, early indications suggest that 2006 will be a very strong year for the Irish property market. Fuelled by the continued buoyancy of the Irish economy, above trend employment growth, strong immigration, the competitiveness of the interest rate environment despite recent upward movements and the seasonal shortage of supply, price inflation remained notably above trend in the opening quarter of 2006."
She said first time buyers remained a stable ingredient in overall demand, purchasing an estimated 36 per cent of all the second-hand properties traded during the three month period.
CRH chief's pay down to €1.925m
CRH said yesterday that its chief executive Liam O'Mahony, was paid €1.925 million last year, down slightly on the €2.039 million he earned in 2004.
His package included a basic salary of €1.155 million, a bonus of €747,000 and benefits worth €23,000, the annual report showed.
Overall, CRH's five executive directors shared pay and benefits of €6.446 million last year. The previous year, six directors were paid €6.741 million between them. The company's chairman, Pat Molloy, was paid €350,000 last year, up from €320,000 in 2004.
Aminex signs 'farm-out' deal
Aminex said yesterday that it had signed a farm-out agreement in relation to its Nyuni licence in Tanzania with East African Exploration , a Dubai-based oil and gas firm.
Capital's financial sector surges
Dublin's financial sector continues to generate strong jobs growth, new survey evidence has found. According to the Blomfield Employment Index, a total of 1,600 new jobs were created in the Dublin area during February. "While the number of new jobs posted, at 1,600, was down on January's peak level, it remains comfortably above the November and December levels" Paul Cotter of Joslin Rowe, Blomfield group's office in Ireland, commented yesterday.
Jobs growth was strongest in the Accountancy and finance/risk management, the survey suggests. Salaries in that sector have risen from €70,742 to €73,529 between December and February.
Lundin update Galmoy Mine data
Lundin Mining, the Swedish company that took over Arcon last year, has updated figures for the mineral reserves at its Galmoy Mine in Co Kilkenny.
The company said yesterday that as of the end of last year, Galmoy had proven and probable reserves of 3.553 million tonnes, grading 14.7 per cent zinc, 4.1 per cent lead and 26g per tonne of silver. Mineral reserves are reported in addition to mineral resources.
