Bank shares remained the focus of attention on the Dublin market and although AIB managed to close the gap, Bank of Ireland held onto its new-found distinction of being the market's second biggest company.

Once again the main focus was on Bank of Ireland which dipped to #11.58 in early trading before recovering to close 10 cents lower on #11.70. Turnover was a chunky 3.4 million shares. There was much lower volume in AIB which closed four cents higher on #13.15.

The biggest volume was in Eircom which stood still on #1.26 as arbitrageurs and short-term investors closed out their positions, preferring to take #1.26 a share now rather than wait for the #1.27 from Valentia in three or four months time. Turnover in Eircom was almost 6.5 million shares.

Elsewhere, CRH rebounded from some recent selling and was 57 cents higher on #20.20, Fyffes also dealt in size to close a cent higher on #1.08 while bookmaker Power Leisure has now regained losses related to foot-and-mouth disease and was 25 cents higher on #3.95. Once again, Smurfit traded in size without going anywhere and was unchanged on #2.13 after 2.9 million shares changed hands.

Baltimore could not maintain its modest gains on Thursday and yesterday lost 1 1/2p to 38 1/2p sterling in turnover of almost seven million shares. Parthus was also weak and closed 1/2p weaker on 65p sterling.