INTEL readied its workforce for the blow it said was unlikely to come as the Irish Independent reported that the chipmaker would cut more than 100 jobs at its Leixlip, Co Kildare plant at the end of the first quarter. The news came as fourth quarter profits showed a 39% drop.

US CONSUMERS WERE UPBEAT, a survey revealed on Friday, reaching confidence levels not seen since January 2004. The news was a welcome counter to gloomy earnings reports from several technology companies. The survey took Wall Street to 7-year highs.

BRENDAN MULLIN departed Quinlan Private to strike out on his own in a new private equity fund worth Euro200m. The former stockbroker with Davy and Goodbody, and former Irish rugby international, may have departed amicably but his ambition will certainly soon bring him into competition with his former colleagues.

DUBLIN PORT chairman Joe Burke found himself in hot water last week as the High Court appointed a liquidator for his pub renovation business J&H Burke and Son Builders Ltd. , reportedly being in the red by between Euro900,000 and Euro1.5m. The Irish Times pointed out that his re-appointment as port chairman may be politically awkward, coming as it would just a month before the planned general election.