View this email in your browser THE IRISH TIMES Business Today Friday, 06 March, 2026 Editor's Note Good morning, reader Asian stocks have erased earlier declines on the final trading day of a volatile week, even as the Middle East conflict showed little sign of easing. Gold and silver rose overnight. Some relief for regional shares came in the form of a weaker dollar and a drop in crude prices as the US weighed a range of options to address the spike in energy costs amid the war in Iran. PTSB has proposed its first dividend since 2008 after growing loans and deposits last year, even though underlying pretax profits dipped almost 3 per cent amid declining interest rates. Continue Reading Conn Ó Midheach   TOP BUSINESS STORIES Markets Asian stocks erase losses and oil declines Business Irish homes and businesses could face energy bill hikes due to Iran conflict Business Irish women expect to earn 17% less than men, survey finds Business Irish banks hope their rosy growth forecasts aren’t out of date as war rages in Middle East Business ‘Men tend to get boosts while women face blockers’: Why are there so few female CEOs? Eoin Burke-Kennedy Is Iran near collapse or is the US walking into an escalation trap? MORE BUSINESS STORIES Business €647bn in crime proceeds washed through Europe every year, conference told Business Oracle plans to cut thousands of jobs amid AI cash crunch Business Oil prices spike again and shares fall as Middle East crisis deepens Work Misclassification of family members a common issue in PRSI cases, PAC hears