'Fat fingers' make Bank jump the gun

A 'FAT-FINGERS' error at the Bank of Ireland led to its half-year results being published a day early. A Dublin employee accidentally sent out the figures to analysts, prompting the bank to bring forward its announcement to avoid a false market in its shares.

BoI, up 10 1/4p at 743 1/2p, unveiled a 16% rise in pre-tax profits to £465m. It will pay an interim dividend of 10.2p, from 9.1p.