Kingspan and Ryanair were among the stronger performers on the Irish stock market yesterday as the ISEQ continued Friday's advance, closing more than 50 points higher.

Shares in the building materials group added 25 cent, or nearly 2.5 per cent, to €10.36 ahead of the publication today of what is expected to be an upbeat trading statement.

Analysts also believe that Kingspan's significant UK operations should benefit from the extensive building programme that will precede the London Olympics in 2012.

In contrast, shares in Grafton remained weak, shedding a further five cent to €8.85 as Marks & Spencer again pointed to the weakness of UK consumer spending in a trading statement.

Ryanair also turned in a good performance yesterday, closing 15 cent or 2.3 per cent higher at €6.55, as the oil price receded from last week's record highs.

Eircom shares also did well, gaining four cent or 2.3 per cent to €1.81 as investors wait to see the outcome of the bidding battle for the third mobile phone operator, Meteor.

"It looks as if Eircom will be at the cutting edge of a deal. The question is at what price," one dealer said.

Shares in Jurys Doyle turned in a more modest performance, edging up by just five cent to €15.80 in light volume ahead of Friday's deadline for Precinct to make a bid for the group.

Market opinion is divided on the chances of a successful offer.

Winning over the Doyle and Beatty families, who control more than 30 per cent of the company, is still seen as the key challenge.

In the financial sector, the picture was mixed as AIB added 21 cent to €17.85 amid market speculation about the fate of its life assurance and asset management businesses.

Bank of Ireland gained 10 cent to €13.50, but Anglo Irish Bank gave up four cent to €10.26.

Meanwhile, insurance group FBD continued its recent strong run, notching up a further five cent to finish at €27.05.