IFG's Cork office on the South Mall.

IFG, the financial services group, today issued an Interim Management Statement and said that overall performance in 2008 has been good, It confirmed that it expects to deliver consensus estimates 25 - 26 cent earnings per share (eps) {adjusted} for the year.

IFG says its business in Ireland is being affected by a difficult property market, but its non-property related Irish businesses are performing well.

It said trading was strong in the year to date, but the group was being affected by exchange rates as up to 80% of its profit is sterling-related. 

At a divisional level, IFG said that the International and UK businesses have performed well with the first 4 months delivering turnover growth to expectations. This is particularly impressive given depreciation of 10% in the operating currency.