Generali Group

The loss contributed to a slump in company’s net profit for the first half of the year

Deal to acquire life assurance centre is 12th investment made by sixth Cinven Fund

Co Cork-based start-up says investment will fast-track development of new software

Navan firm sold as part of transaction worth up to €419m

Company intends to grow its new business assets to €30 billion by end of 2019

Generali House extends to 26,000sq ft on a 2.4-acre site, with annual rent at €505,714

Athora has sold on portfolio to LCCG just days after Aegon Ireland deal closed

Fashion retailer H&M declines and consumer goods giant Unilever loses ground

Combined group will manage about €24 billion in assets

Regulator received no banking applications in first half and approved three insurers

Recruitment drive will begin immediately to fill roles in IT, finance, trading and legal

Kingspan shares close down 1.6% despite strong sales growth

Ryanair and Smurfit Kappa among main gainers in rising Dublin market

Building and materials companies temper gloom over unravelling deals

Bank of Ireland rally as Italy’s Generali bid news sparks revival in European banks

Two-week rally driven by rebound in beaten-down banking shares; dollar pauses

Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey among fall in housebuilders and energy companies following autumn statement

The US Federal Reserve says economic stability threatened by low interest rates

Smurfit Kappa named second on reserve list of companies eligible to join FTSE 100

Jean-Pierre Mustier’s ascent to top job at UniCredit is a comeback for one of Europe’s most experienced bankers

New chief executive Mario Greco puts his stamp on the Swiss insurer

Stocks fall as World Bank cuts global economic growth predictions to 2.4 per cent

Martin Senn (59) stepped down in December as CEO in a shake-up

Alphabet again takes over from Apple as world’s most valuable public company

Head of German operations to take over in September

Shares in Aryzta rise for the first time in week, climbing 2 per cent to €33.80 in Dublin

Banco Popolare and Banca Popolare di Milano were both down more than 4 per cent

Rise in the shares shows markets want euro zone to continue, says analyst

Purchase will bring to more than €50m the amount spent on Irish property investments by Igal Ahouvi in recent years

Pope Francis has shown he is no friend of murky financial practices

Italian insurer to invest in Poland, Asia, Latin America

New rules will force insurers to hold enough capital to keep policyholders safe

Cash and share deal worth €860m

Company pledges to investigate whether Pierre Wauthier had been put under undue strain before his death

Ackermann says family of Pierre Wauthier believe he shares blame for death

Bank moves under pressure to improve returns for shareholders

Pessimistic Draghi sends investors fleeing