Businesses seek council rates cut

Businesses are seeking a reduction in commercial rates from local councils, saying they won't be used as a "financial crutch" as the government slashes funding for local authorities by 10%.

Dublin Chamber of Commerce is demanding a 10% cut in commercial rates to help cut the "cost of staying open" for businesses. Chamber CEO Gina Quin said Dublin City Council and other local authorities should deliver services more efficiently to avoid calling on struggling businesses to compensate for the withdrawal of central government funding.

The call comes after it emerged Dublin City Council has been increasing ground rents on tenants in industrial states as its income fell amid further business bankruptcies.

US Black Friday sees more shoppers than last year

Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year in the United States, got off to its earliest start ever last week with stores reporting greater shopper numbers than last year.

About 7,000 people waited at 4am when Macy's flagship store at Herald Square in New York opened.

Retailers view Black Friday – so named because that's when many stores become profitable – as a bellwether for the entire holiday season.

Revenue to have Mansfield's former company wound up

The Revenue Commissioners has applied to have HSS, the company previously controlled by developer Jim Mansfield, wound up.

The petition will be heard on 13 December.

In July, Bank of Scotland (Ireland) appointed Martin Ferris as receiver to HSS, which controls the Citywest complex in Saggart. The bank is owed more than €170m.

Mansfield had been trying to buy the complex out of receivership.