Dublin report: Weak construction data in the US clipped a few points off European markets yesterday, although the Iseq has escaped for the time being. The Iseq closed up 16.8 points, an upward creep of 0.19 per cent.
The financial stocks had a mixed day following a strong performance for the sector on Thursday as a result of Bank of Ireland's bumper figures.
Its 28 per cent increase in first-half pretax profits prompted brokers to adjust their earnings-per-share forecasts upwards. But the stock's 15 cent gain on Thursday was almost wiped out yesterday, and it closed down 12 cent at €16.03, with 7.6 million shares changing hands.
AIB, however, added half a per cent to its price, gaining 12 cent to finish at €21.73, while Anglo Irish Bank fell back three cent to €14.37. Irish Life & Permanent, meanwhile, had a very good day, climbing 50 cent to €19.80, an increase of 2.59 per cent, on the back of almost three million shares traded.
Aer Lingus's share price recovered by two cent to €2.75, while Ryanair finished down four cent at €9.81 after some trading at the €9.90 level, as crude oil prices in the US fell to below $55 a barrel - its lowest price since June 2005.
Shares in Tullow Oil dropped 25 cent to €6.06, a fall of almost 4 per cent.
United Drug boosted its share price by five cent to €3.78. Elsewhere, Elan dropped 10 cent to €11.30 and Trinity Biotech fell three cent to €11.72.
Building materials group CRH closed up 1.6 per cent at €28.60, a climb of 45 cent. Paddy Power was another outperformer, rising 14 cent to €15.59.
C&C rose 28 cent to €11.82, while lifestyle food and agribusiness company IAWS fell 31 cent to €18.74. Staying in the food sector, Glanbia's share price climbed seven cent to €3.00.
