Friday's house price data confirmed what estate agents have been whispering: house prices fell for the first time in five years. Now the national average is 309,071; the price has come down 0.5% in the first quarter of the year. If a price collapse does happen, rest assured the industry will blame the media.

FERRIES AGROUND IN THE MUD Opposing camps in the ICG takeover battle started blaming each other for the stalemate that will see neither CEO Eamon Rothwell's MBO group or the One51/Doyle group get enough traction to buy the company that owns Irish Ferries. Rothwell's 18.50 per share offer could have been topped, but rival One51 kvetch they're being kept in the dark on detailed accounts that would allow them to get a bank to back a bid.

IT COULD BE WORSE If ICG's suitors think this is hardball they should try bidding for ABN Amro against Barclays Bank. The Dutch queered the pitch for a rival $98bn bid from RBS, Fortis and Santander by agreeing to shed US-based LaSalle bank before they could buy it. On a good day, any takeover will require the approval of more than 70 regulators around the world. That's what you get if you win.

NOT-SO APPALLINGMicrosoft disappointed its critics by posting a 65% gain in profits in its last quarter off the strength of sales of its new operating system, Vista. Can you ever really lose with a 95% share of the world's operating system market?