In short

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

Court appoints liquidator to iQon

The High Court has appointed a liquidator to iQon Technologies Ltd, the Louth-based computer manufacturer.

Mr Justice Peter Kelly appointed Michael McAteer of Foster McAteer as liquidator after being told the firm had been unable to raise the investment necessary to ensure its survival as a going concern.

The company has offices at Finnabair Industrial Estate, Dundalk, Co Louth, and liabilities of more than €7 million. It was placed under court protection late last year while it sought to raise investment.

BT signs €1.3m deal with SWS

BT Ireland has won a five-year deal worth €1.3 million to provide voice and data network services to Cork-based SWS Business Process Outsourcing.

The network will connect SWS offices in Ireland, Europe and the US.

Apple shares hit by weak forecast

Shares in Apple dropped by as much as 19 per cent yesterday after investors reacted badly to a weak forecast from the firm. The technology giant, whose shares were up 125 per cent in 2007, suffered despite posting record quarterly results on Tuesday night.

Google was also under pressure, falling the most since its 2004 initial public offering after UBS analysts said its revenue growth would slow along with the US economy.

RPS profits beat forecasts

Planning and environmental consultancy RPS said yesterday that a strong performance in 2007 resulted in profit growing ahead of expectations.

"The board expects to announce full-year profit, before tax and amortisation, somewhat ahead of current consensus forecasts," it said.

London-listed RPS employs 1,100 in Ireland.

Pfizer profit higher than expected

Pfizer reported a higher- than-expected fourth- quarter profit yesterday, helped by lower taxes, a weak dollar and demand for drugs to treat nerve pain and cancer and to help smokers quit. Earnings fell to $2.88 billion (€1.97 billion), or 42 cents, a share from $9.45 billion, or $1.32 a share, a year earlier. - (Reuters)

Buffett takes 3% stake in Swiss Re

Shares in Swiss Re defied weakness on stock markets after it said Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway group had taken a 3 per cent stake as part of a wider commercial agreement.

Investors were reassured after Swiss Re said it would buy back an additional SFr1.75 billion (€1.1 billion) of equity in the next 18 months. - (Financial Times service)

GM, Toyota tie in 2007 car sales

General Motors (GM) just managed to keep Toyota from overtaking it as the world's biggest carmaker after the two companies reported virtually identical 2007 sales. GM said it had sold 9,369,524 vehicles last year. Toyota previously announced sales of 9.37 million. Toyota said it had no plans to issue a more precise figure. - (Financial Times service)