SHARE prices in Dublin soared to another all time high yesterday sending the ISEQ overall share index up almost 1 per cent on the day.

The strong performance was in line with gains in London and New York, following the surprise decision by the US Federal Reserve to leave interest rates unchanged on Tuesday.

In Dublin, most stocks managed to make gains, with market leaders performing particularly well.

The two leading industrial stocks, CRH and Smurfit, were in good demand. CRH went strongly ahead, adding 8p to 620p on the day. Substantial volumes of Smurfit stock changed hands in trading which saw it rise as high as 168p, before easing back to close 2p better at 166p.

Financial stocks also had a good day. AIB gained 1p to 367 1/2p, while Bank of Ireland jumped 7p to close at 490p.

Irish Life managed to continue its recent good run on the back of strong half year results, with the stock trading up 1 1/2p, to 247p, boosted by a Merrill Lynch "buy" note.

Other financials on the move included Irish Permanent which went a penny higher to 442p.

In company news, Ryan Hotels reported a 31 per cent increase in pre tax profits to £1.6 million for the first half of 1996, much in line with market expectations. The shares gained a penny to 41p yesterday.

Half year figures from Norish were somewhat better than forecast, with the group showing pretax profits of £688,000 compared with a loss of £566,000 in the same period last year. The share did not trade yesterday, having previously closed at 76p.

Most of the food stocks firmed, with some managing to move higher in line with the market.

Kerry ended 2p higher at 612p, while Avonmore was unchanged at 156p. Golden Vale put on a penny to 61p while Fyffes also gained 1p to 101p.

Among the second liners, IWP put in a good performance, adding 7 1/2p to 247 1/2p and Unidare was unchanged at 180p.

In the exploration sector, Tullow dropped 4p to 95p.