Survey Finds Bussiness Confidence High in Border Region

An all-Ireland bussiness survey has found that over half of small and medium sized bussinesses in border areas expect their bussiness prospects to improve over the next year.

The survey, which was carried out by Ulster Bank of bussinesses with 100 or more employee's, found that 44% of companies in border regions feel their performance is better than this time last year.

The survey also found that improved road access and the influx of a migrant workforce are two of the main drivers of bussiness confidence in the border region.

John McGrain is Head of Commercial Banking with Ulster Bank.

He says businesses in areas such as Donegal have a more optimistic outlook for the year ahead than in other parts of the country.

Fish out of french

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) - Mardy Fish will not be playing in this year's French Open as planned. The 31st-ranked player in the world and his US teammates at the World Team Cup visited the NFL Europa team Rhein Fire today and he apparently sprained ligaments in his foot while trying to kick a field goal.

Fish has returned to the United States for treatment, ruling him out of the year's second grand slam event, which gets under way Sunday in Paris.