Markets rebound, remote working on the rise, and street artist to sue restaurant chain

Business Today: The best news, analysis and comment from The Irish Times business desk

Investors are weighing the longer-term impact of tough Western sanctions against Russia
Investors are weighing the longer-term impact of tough Western sanctions against Russia

Asian markets have rebounded this morning following Wall Street's surprising overnight reversal, but investors are weighing the longer-term impact of tough Western sanctions against Russia after it unleashed troops, tanks and missiles on Ukraine.

Shares in building materials giant CRH and Ryanair, both of which have large exposures to Ukraine, were among the main fallers on the Irish stock market on Thursday, Joe Brennan reports.

We’ll have updates on the impact of the war on global markets throughout the day on irishtimes.com.

Staying with the crisis in Ukraine, Irish consumers and businesses have been advised to be on high alert for potential cyber attacks and should "treat the internet as hostile" in the coming days and weeks. Ciara O'Brien reports.

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In Agenda, Cliff Taylor is writing about how consumers and businesses face an energy shock, with the threat of significant hikes in oil and gas prices. The security of gas supplies is also the topic of John FitzGerald's column today; while Ireland doesn't have supply contracts with Russia, he writes, the integrated nature of the European gas market means that any shortfall in Russian supply to Europe will have an immediate impact on us all.

At home, hiring rates in the Irish labour market saw continued strong recovery towards the end of 2021, and remote working opportunities continue to grow, with one in five Irish job postings on LinkedIn in December offering the option of flexible work, according to IDA Ireland's Labour Market Pulse report published this morning. Ciara O'Brien has the details.

Abbey Wealth, the Dublin-based financial advisory firm traditionally focused on British expatriates, has set its sights on doubling its current €850 million portfolio of assets under advice within five years after being subject to a management buyout. Joe Brennan has the story.

Street artist Emmalene Blake has accused restaurant chain Bel Cibo of reproducing her murals on the walls of two cafes without her knowing. She's suing for breach of copyright in a case due before the courts today, writes Barry O'Halloran.

Residents are opposing "fast track" plans by co-owners of the Press Up Hospitality group, Paddy McKillen Jnr and Matthew Ryan, for a €200 million 493-unit apartment scheme on a site near Blackrock in south Dublin, reports Gordon Deegan.

In Caveat, Mark Paul takes a look at why the newly built Holiday Inn at Dublin Airport closed its doors to the public after just seven months to become a centre for asylum seekers: "It is glaringly obvious that the State must be making it worth its while," he writes.

In World of Work, Olive Keogh is writing about recruitment in the life sciences sector, while the Wild Geese column this week features an interview with Matthew Baston, a business development manager at cognitive health company Cambridge Brain Science in Toronto.

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Ciara Kenny

Ciara Kenny

Ciara Kenny, founding editor of Irish Times Abroad, a section for Irish-connected people around the world, is Editor of the Irish Times Magazine