There was a strong boost for Bank of Ireland ahead of its full-year results tomorrow with some investors taking the view that the results will be ahead of forecasts. "Better to get in now than wait for the figures" was the comment from one Dublin broker as Bank of Ireland shares rose 92 cents to #18.82 (£14.82).

Analysts are expecting pre-tax profits in a range between #1.04 billion to #1.08 billion (£819 million to £850 million) and earnings per share between #1.47 and #1.53 (£1.16 to £1.20). Anything ahead of the forecasts will undoubtedly see Bank of Ireland shares rise further, with many in the market taking the view that they were heavily oversold when they went below #18.

Bank of Ireland was one of the few high spots in an otherwise dull day, although CRH did manage a 5 cent gain to #18.15 (£14.29) after the Finnsementti/Rudus acquisition. Goodbody has hiked its 1999 earnings forecast for CRH by 1.5 cents to 91.7 cents and its 2000 forecasts by 3 cents to 104.7 cents.

AIB drifted 20 cents lower to #13.90 (£10.95) but Irish Life & Permanent took something of a pummelling and fell 70 cents to #12.60 (£9.92), the lowest level this year for the share.

Among the second-liners, Ardagh was 15 cents higher on #2.15 (£1.69) although DCC slipped 5 cents to #8.70 (£6.85) after results, despite some bullish comment from the British financial press. Independent continued its impressive run and was another 15 cents stronger on #5.20 (£4.10), while Smurfit was 6 cents higher on #2.54 (£2.00). On Nasdaq, the main feature was a strong showing by Esat, ahead of results from Digifone today. At the Dublin close, Esat was trading over $1 1/4 higher around $42 (#39.15).