Other fiance stories in brief
Study shows that Ireland has over 450 'super-rich' residents
There are more than 450 "super-rich" individuals in Ireland with more than €10 million in assets, excluding their homes, according to a new study commissioned by Investec Ireland.
The study, carried out by DKM Economic Consultants, found that the top 100 people are each worth more than €100 million.
Irish individuals and companies realised €41 billion in capital gains from investments in land, property and equities over the three years to 2007, the study found, while only 1 per cent of Ireland's new wealth is inherited, compared to 18 per cent globally.
'Grand Theft Auto IV' video game enjoys record-breaking first-week sales of $500m
The Grand Theft Auto IV video game has broken all entertainment records for an opening week, with global retail sales of about 6 million copies, or more than $500 million, according to Take-Two, its US publisher.
The launch figures far eclipse those of Microsoft's Halo 3 game, released last September. They also exceed opening weeks for the film and book record-holders, Spiderman 3 and the Harry Potter series.
GTA IV's success is expected to give a significant boost to sales of the two consoles on which it has been released - Sony's PlayStation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360.
It may also embolden Take-Two's management, which has described a $2 billion takeover bid by Electronic Arts, the largest video games publisher, as undervaluing the company. - (Financial Times service)
Revenue to get data on deposit interest
The Revenue Commissioners will automatically receive details of deposit interest paid to customers, under new regulations introduced yesterday. Banks, building societies, credit unions and the Post Office Savings Bank must report any deposit income retention tax (Dirt) deducted from customers in 2005 and 2006 by September 15th.
Hibernian appoints managing director
Insurer Hibernian has announced that Dick O'Driscoll, the managing director of its general insurance business, will retire in November. Subject to approval, Hibernian's group finance director, Michael Murphy, who was yesterday promoted to deputy managing director of the general insurance business, will succeed Mr O'Driscoll on December 1st.
Tullow's Mauritania partner finds oil
Roc Oil, one of Irish company Tullow's partners in a Mauritania exploration licence said yesterday that it has suspended drilling operations on a well after establishing that it contains commercial oil and gas reserves.
Tullow chief executive Aidan Heavey welcomed the news and said that the success of the drilling operations would prove "invaluable" in establishing the potential of its interests off the Mauritania coast.
He added that the discovery was "exciting".
Google and Intel in $3.2bn wireless deal
A seven-member consortium including media and technology giants Intel, Google, Comcast and Time Warner Cable has agreed to invest $3.2 billion in a new joint venture led by Sprint Nextel and Clearwire to build a 4G nationwide wireless broadband network in the US.
Based on WiMax technology, the joint venture will be 51 per cent owned by Sprint Nextel, but will be run as an independent company by a team led by Benjamin Wolff, Clearwire's chief executive.
