In short

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

Ryanair bets on in-flight gambling

Ryanair said yesterday in-flight gambling could eventually help it to offer free tickets for all. Chief executive Michael O'Leary admitted it could change the image of the airline industry but insisted that it could only be for the better as the traditional one appeared to be built around high-cost tickets and terrible food.

The move to gambling via personal mobile phones or airline-provided equipment could be achieved technologically but needed some kind of reliable payment system, he said. It was hard to assess impact on flight economics but it could be "enormous" - up to €250 million of revenues per year for almost zero costs. - (Guardian Service)

PwC revenues rise to $20.3bn

Global accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers said on Wednesday that gross aggregate revenues for its firms in fiscal 2005 were $20.3 billion (€16.8 billion), an increase of nearly 17 per cent in US dollars and more than 12 per cent in local currencies.

Excluding expenses reimbursed by clients, net aggregate revenues were $19 billion for the year ended June 30th.

PwC said South America and Asia fuelled its growth in fiscal 2005, with revenue growth highest in South America at nearly 22 per cent. PwC said its firms had invested more than $200 million in China in the last 12 years. - (Reuters)

Construction jobs continue to grow

Construction sector employment increased by 3.2 per cent in September, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.

The monthly employment index rose to 110.4 in September, from 107 in the year-earlier month, the figures showed. The annual increase in August was 3.8 per cent.

Restaurant chains return to market

Restaurant chains PizzaExpress, ASK and Zizzi will return to the London stock market today with shares priced at the bottom of the expected range, a source close to the company said yesterday.

Shares in Gondola Holdings, owner of the restaurant chains, were priced at 320 pence apiece, at the bottom of the company's indicative range of 320p-430p, the source said.- (Reuters)

Sales surge, losses shrink at Nortel

Nortel Networks , one of the world's largest telecom equipment suppliers, reported surging sales and a smaller third-quarter loss on Wednesday, as it hiked its 2005 sales forecast. The company employs over 300 people in Galway.

Nortel, stung last year by an accounting scandal that dented demand, said it now saw fiscal 2005 revenue growing 13 per cent over 2004, above its previous 10 per cent target. - (Reuters)