Settlement Day: July 4th: The market ended slightly weaker yesterday, driven down in the main by declines in the financial stocks.

AIB's absence from trade in its own shares was particularly notable, with volume in the stock dropping to just 1.5 million shares. The company, which has now entered a closed period, said it had bought 2.5 million of its shares on Monday, paying an average price of €13.26. AIB closed 31 cents lower at 12.78 last night.

Dealers reported some switching from the stock into Bank of Ireland, which also continued its buyback on Monday, albeit at a slightly slower pace. The bank, which may have been back in the market yesterday, bought 350,000 shares at 10.477. Slightly more than eight million shares changed hands in the stock in Dublin yesterday, as it shed 22 cents to finish at 10.33.

Anglo Irish held up well amid the declines, limiting losses to just two cents as it closed at 7.68, while First Active ended 10 cents lower at 4.25.

Outside the banks, CRH built on positive investor reaction to Monday's trading statement by adding 29 cents to close at €3.94. Independent News & Media, which also released a trading update this week, was unchanged at 1.58. Ryanair was one cent weaker at 6.26.

Elan, which has now officially asked US regulators to allow a delay in filing its accounts, continued to win back last week's losses by climbing 50 cents to 5.00. Dealers said most trade was at 4.90.

Fellow drugs firm, Galen, saw some buying attention, but ended lower, dropping two cents to 7.45.

Waterford Wedgwood was the busiest stock of the day, with 10 million shares traded as it closed one cent higher at 25 cents.