Dublin saw reasonable trade yesterday despite the closure of the US markets for the Thanksgiving Day holiday. Volume was a respectable 25 million shares as the overall index ended down just under seven points.

Industrial holdings group DCC was one of the features of the day, shedding close to 6 per cent as the long-running battle between it and fellow ISEQ constituent Fyffes finally arrived in the High Court for preliminary legal scuffles ahead of a landmark insider-trading case.

Traders said that investors were adopting a cautious approach ahead of the full hearing. The stock, which has held up well in recent months, closed on €15.40, down 95 cents on the day, in volume that was reasonable heavy for DCC.

"This [ case] could hover over the both DCC and Fyffes for months," said one trader. "However, DCC is unlikely to worry anyone as long as it stays above €15."

Eircom was by far the busiest stock on the day, with close to six million shares changing hands in Dublin. Profit-taking following well-received interim figures on Wednesday, that triggered broker upgrades and pushed the share to a new high of €1.70 at one point, saw it slip three cents yesterday to €1.66.

Among the banks, the main action was at Anglo Irish Bank, which reported results well ahead of expectations on Wednesday. It added 46 cents yesterday to the 74-cent gain the previous day to close on €16.88.

Elsewhere, financials struggled to make ground with Bank of Ireland closing 12 cents weaker on€11.54 while rival AIB ended the day unchanged in relatively light volumes.

Irish Life & Permanent was almost 1 per cent off on the day closing at €13.17.

Northern Ireland power group Viridian continued its post-results advance, adding 20 cents in Dublin to close on €9.90.

Irish Continental gave up 20 cents as it cancelled sailings following news of impending industrial action.