Settlement Date: August 12th: Activity levels held up well on the Iseq yesterday, despite the prevailing summer mood.

The star of the day was Elan, where shares added 21 per cent, or €1.30, to end the day at €7.40. Driving the movement was the growing belief that the firm's flagship Tysabri drug could return to the market before too long.

Another notable mover was Jurys Doyle, which rose by 15 cent to €17.40 on reasonable volume. The stock is now just 10 cent off the conditional approach made at the end of July by Precinct.

Some in the market believe meanwhile that a "white knight" bidder could be waiting in the wings.

Davy has placed a valuation on the stock of €19.44.

The banks were mixed, with Bank of Ireland the biggest loser as it shed 41 cent to finish at €13.15. AIB climbed by 17 cent to €17.83, while Anglo Irish moved ahead by four cent to €11.20.

Irish Life & Permanent fell by five cent to €14.55. Insurance firm FBD did better, rising two cent to €30.60 amid much positive analyst comment on the financial regulator's latest insurance price survey.

Still in the financial sector, IFG was flat at €1.43 despite growing positive sentiment towards the stock. Nordea Bank Denmark told the market yesterday that it had raised its holding in the company from 7.53 per cent to 8.45 per cent.

DCC had a particularly good day as it added 53 cent to close at €18.88. Dealers said investors were interested in the "quality" of the name and were apparently no longer distracted by litigation involving the company.

Ryanair was hit by continuing nervousness over oil prices, with its shares losing 13 cent to finish at €6.48.

CRH weakened by 14 cent to close at €22.80.

Kerry meanwhile did well as investors considered its €179 million acquisition of ready meals maker Noon Products. Shares in the food group rose by ten cent to end the session at €20.70.