The Iseq index was one of the better performers in Europe today, lifted by positive turns from its two largest components CRH and Ryanair.

Building materials giant CRH advanced almost 1 per cent, or 10.5 cent, to finish at €12.40 after posting decent first-half numbers yesterday.

The stock was also boosted by the release of results by its peer Wienerberger today, which came in slightly ahead of expectations and which have a read-through for CRH's European products division.

Low fares airline Ryanair continued the recovery evident since the middle of last week, nudging up by another three cent to €3.14.

Ingredients and flavours group Kerry also helped to "move the dial" on the Iseq, a broker said, after delivering one of the strongest performances of the day. After reporting a robust first-half performance and re-iterating its guidance for the full year, the stock bounced as high as €27.80 at one point. Though the share price had settled back to €27.35 by the close, it was still more than 3 per cent up, or 80.5 cent, and well off the lows seen in recent sessions.

Though it didn't trade on massive volume, Paddy Power was the star performer, gaining more than 4 per cent, or €1.30, to close at €33.00.

Paper and packaging group Smurfit Kappa, which one trader said has had a "topsy turvy" time of late, struggled again today, and shed 21 cent to €5.24.

Overall the Iseq index gained more than 1 per cent, bringing it to 2,566.22.

Germany's DAX Index retreated 0.8 per cent and the UK's FTSE 100 Index declined 0.5 per cent. France's CAC 40 Index gained 0.7 per cent.