Markets News Afternoon: US jobless benefit claims remain at 1982 high; Factory orders fall to 8-year low; Stocks down in US and Europe

Trichet warns of danger of "being trapped" at very low interest rate levels; Eurozone demand to fall for "protracted period of time”

ECB rate cuts lead to monthly savings on  €300,000 30-year mortgage of over €300 since September

Lenihan announces option for members of Defined Contribution occupational pension schemes to defer annuity purchase

European Central Bank cuts benchmark rate to 2.5%; Trichet to address Press Conference

Bank of England cuts benchmark rate to 2% - lowest level since 1951; Rate has never been lower since 1694 - -in 314 years

AIB announces SME package: €1bn funding for investment and working capital requirements; €200m Start Up fund

Markets News Thursday: European shares rise; Sweden cuts benchmark rate 1.75% to 2%

Coughlan appoints Enterprise Feedback Group on plan for Ireland to become a world-class knowledge economy by 2013

Irish economy faces into a bleak 2009 and further contraction in 2010 - Davy

Thursday Newspaper Review - Irish Business News and International Stories - - December 04, 2008

Lenihan announces directors' panel for State-guaranteed banks

European Central Bank may cut benchmark rate by 0.75%; Bank of England may opt to cut by 1% to reduce rates to 1694 level

Federal Reserve's Beige Book and weak US economic data confirm fears of steep slump

Irish Pension Schemes fail to beat Inflation over 10 Years ; Funds down 32.7% on average in 2008

Markets News Afternoon: US service sector contracted in November at rapid rate; Anglo Irish Bank falls 25%

Irish Live Register: Jobs losses rise 16,900 in November; up 106,684 in 12 months - highest monthly rise since January 1975

Eurozone Services: Record fall in business activity as downturn gathers pace in all big countries

Irish broadband subscribers can rarely access the maximum connection speeds advertised; National broadband scheme delayed for further 22 months

Markets News Wednesday: European stocks fall; PIMCO bond fund founder says stocks may not be as cheap as they appear