Morning Digest

Good morning! Here's today's top business headlines ??

Chupi raises €3.75m and plans Dublin and London expansion

Irish designer Chupi Sweetman’s jewellery brand Chupi is to receive €3.75m investment from a mix of backers including Business Venture Partners (BVP), Abbey Finance and Permanent TSB (PTSB) to accelerate the brand’s global growth.

Company pensions on course for €1bn surplus due to interest rate hikes

Rising interest rates have helped traditional company pension schemes to generate a massive surplus.

Seamus Kearney steps down as CEO of Odlums and Jacob’s owner Valeo Foods after 11 years at the helm

Seamus Kearney is resigning as chief executive of Valeo Foods Group , the multibillion-euro consumer food producer behind well-known brands such as Jacob’s, Batchelor’s, Kelkin and Odlums.

New deal on Brexit ‘to be announced soon’ as UK softens its stance on European Court of Justice

A new Brexit deal is expected to be announced in the next fortnight after the UK watered down its hardline resistance to European judges ruling on issues in Northern Ireland.

Former Wirecard boss denies charges of counterfeiting and embezzlement

Wirecard’s former boss yesterday denied all wrongdoing over the collapse of the payments company as he took to the stand for the first time in Germany's biggest post-war fraud trial, accusing other managers of scheming behind his back.

Ireland set for year of strong GDP growth as EU avoids recession

The EU is to escape a technical recession this winter, while the Irish economy powers ahead of its neighbours.

Dolphin Trust directors in focus as liquidators initiate proceedings

Liquidators at one of the firms at the centre of the Dolphin Trust scheme are suing the wealth management firm and directors who ran the failed investment venture.

Liberty Global takes stake in Vodafone

Liberty Global said it has acquired a 4.9pc stake in?Vodafone?Group in a surprise bet that the rival British telecom group's plans to strike deals and revamp its business will lead to a better share price.