MARKET REPORT:The Irish market had its third positive day in a row yesterday, as benign international markets gave the Irish financials a chance to shine.

As usual, the banks were the leaders, with Irish Life & Permanent and Anglo Irish heading the pack, with gains of almost 6 per cent and 4 per cent respectively.

IL&P closed up 85 cent, at €15.15, while Anglo added 40 cent to end the day at €10.40. Anglo was particularly busy, with as many as nine million shares changing hands.

AIB and Bank of Ireland were less impressive. AIB added just 0.9 per cent, or 13 cent, to close at €15.43, while Bank of Ireland, which is due to release interim results this morning, rose only 0.3 per cent, or three cent, to €10.40.

Dealers said they weren't expecting anything spectacular from the results, particularly given the detailed trading statement already released by the bank.

Away from the financials, the market lost some ground. Independent News & Media was a rare gainer, adding 2.7 per cent, or six cent, to end at €2.36.

However, the positive sentiment failed to permeate the entire market. Drinks group C&C fell as much as 8 per cent before recovering somewhat to end the day down 1.8 per cent, or eight cent, at €4.47. Dealers attributed the early decline to the latest AC Nielsen data showing that the company had lost yet more of its share of the UK cider market, with its stake now falling to its lowest level since May 2006.

Elsewhere, DCC fell 2.1 per cent, or 42 cent, to €19.57 after the Supreme Court ordered it to pay all of the costs of the legal action taken against it by Fyffes.

Smurfit Kappa meanwhile closed unchanged at €12.80 after reporting results that one dealer described as "bang in line" with expectations.