Archive for February 2026

Bitcoin staged a partial recovery after briefly testing the $60,000 level, rebounding from its weakest point in more than a year as pressure across global financial markets showed early signs of easing. The world’s largest cryptocurrency had fallen sharply earlier in the session, sliding by around 5% to just above $60,000. It later recovered, rising…

Personal loan activity in Ireland reached a new quarterly peak last year, driven by strong demand for car finance, home improvement projects, and green lending, according to the latest figures from Banking & Payments Federation Ireland. The data shows that total personal loan values rose by 15.7% to €776 million, while loan volumes increased by…

Social media platforms generated an estimated €32 million last year from scam advertisements aimed at consumers in Ireland, according to new research commissioned by online banking platform Revolut and carried out by Juniper Research. The study highlights the scale of financial harm linked to fraudulent advertising on major social media channels. In the Irish market,…

At KAAS we know in business, success rarely comes from standing still. Markets change, customer behaviour evolves, and costs fluctuate. Yet many companies make the mistake of treating financial review as a once-a-year exercise. This static approach leaves them vulnerable to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and cash flow surprises. Continuous financial review, on the other hand,…

Bitcoin fell below the $70,000 mark, slipping to its lowest level since Donald Trump won the US presidential election in November 2024. The world’s largest cryptocurrency dropped to an intraday low of $69,821 before recovering slightly to trade back above $70,000. The decline reflects a broader retreat from risk across global markets. In recent weeks,…

Personal lending activity in Ireland continued its strong upward trend last year, with new figures showing record levels of borrowing across car finance, home improvements and environmentally focused loans. Data from the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland indicates that personal loan drawdowns rose sharply in the third quarter, with total values increasing by 15.7 percent…

The European Central Bank has opted to keep interest rates unchanged, a move that was widely anticipated by markets, while signalling that recent currency movements have not altered its medium-term policy outlook. Having paused its policy easing cycle in June after a year of rate reductions, the ECB now finds itself in a more comfortable…

Confidence among prospective home buyers remains strained, with many expressing growing frustration at the pace of housing delivery across Ireland. According to recent consumer sentiment research from MyHome, concern about the wider property market remains high, while only a small minority believe recent housing policy measures have made purchasing a home any easier. The survey…

Electricity bills often feel opaque, yet there is no single standard bill that applies to every household. What you pay depends on several factors, including where you live, how much electricity you use, and when you use it. Over recent years, these variables have become even more important as costs across the energy system have…