A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Big rise in private sector job vacancies
The number of job vacancies leaped last month, with 17 per cent of private sector firms reporting vacancies, compared to 12 per cent in June.
Job vacancies in the construction sector rose to 10 per cent last month, up from 8 per cent in June, according to the Fás and ESRI vacancies survey.
But a higher number of construction firms now expect their future employment levels to fall, with the outlook for jobs in the sector at its lowest level since the survey began in May 2002, according to Fás and the ESRI.
Fitch confirms AIB credit ratings
Credit rating agency Fitch has affirmed Anglo Irish Bank's A+ and F1 credit ratings and said the bank's long-term outlook is stable.
Anglo's long-term issuer default rating remains at A+, while the short-term issuer default rating is categorised F1. Its individual rating is B, while the support rating floor was affirmed at BB+.
The rating agency said the bank's ratings reflected consistently strong profitability, good asset quality, an extremely low cost/income ratio, diversified funding and stable margins.
Etrip in €5m deal with Q-Park
Etrip Services, a specialist electronic tolling company, has signed a seven-year contract with car park operator Q-Park Group, which is estimated to be worth more than €5 million.
Etrip will provide an electronic tag to Q-Park customers which will enable them to pay their parking fees without the need for cash.
Mortgage rises start to bite
Almost half of first-time buyers have been forced to change their lifestyles because of higher interest charges on their mortgages, according to a new survey from EBS.
UK approval for Elan's MS drug
Elan's multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri received a boost yesterday when it was recommended for use in people with highly active relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis by the UK's independent health advisory body.
Tysabri is the first multiple sclerosis treatment to be recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
