DUBLIN REPORT -  Iseq:4,347.27 (+26.04) Settlement date:August 28th. INTERIM RESULTS season kicked off yesterday with Iseq market heavyweights Kerry and CRH both posting half-year figures.

Unsurprisingly, the two companies were among the most traded stocks as the Iseq advanced a modest 0.6 per cent, gaining 26.04 points to 4,347.27, despite some late-selling before the close of business.

In a cautious statement, building materials company CRH reported a 10 per cent drop in pretax profits to €606 million in the first six months compared to the first half of 2007.

Combined with overnight weakness in the US building materials market, this saw early selling-off of the stock. However, it rebounded strongly in the early afternoon, trading up almost 3 per cent, before some late-selling saw it close nine cent weaker at €16.62.

Kerry's results, with pretax profits in the first half more or less flat at €132.8 million, found favour in the market. Despite a few sellers emerging just before the close of business, it still managed to end 1.42 per cent stronger as it tacked on 27 cent to €19.27.

Elan was another big winner yesterday, boosted by speculation that new warnings on its multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri were not expected to alter doctors' prescribing behaviour significantly. The value of its shares rose by more than 10 per cent, gaining 98 cent to €10.22.

Financial stocks were mixed, with Irish Life Permanent the stand-out performer ahead of its results today. Despite dipping below the €5 level at the start of trading, it recovered well in the afternoon to advance 28.6 cent, a gain of 5.56 per cent, to €5.426.

Anglo Irish Bank was more or less flat at €5.261, while AIB closed down two cent at €8.13.

Bank of Ireland was the poorest performer, falling 13 cent to €5.17, a drop of 2.45 per cent.