The bounce in telecom and technology shares on European markets did little to help the two lame ducks among the Irish technology stocks, with Baltimore weakening further and Trintech just about holding its ground after last week's dramatic collapse.

Baltimore fell as low as 206p sterling before closing down 14 1/2p on 219 1/2p after brokers WestLB Panmure slapped an "underperform" tag on the shares and set a 170p target for the shares. Panmure based its downgrading on a belief that purchase of Baltimore's software products could be deferred amid a general slowdown in IT infrastructure spending, illustrated by the recent profits warning from Oracle. At its closing level, Baltimore was at its lowest level for 2 1/2 years.

Trintech edged marginally on the Neuer Markt and closed up five cents on #2.40 but there was little support for the shares despite the

reassuring comments in various media from chief executive Mr Cyril McGuire. On Nasdaq, most of the Irish technology stocks recovered to varying degrees, but Parthus was the best of the bunch.

On the home market, shares were generally firmer ahead of a deluge of corporate results over the coming weeks. A recovery by Vodafone helped Eircom gain eight cents to #2.40 although turnover in the share was tiny.

The biggest gains were notched up by the two food stocks worst hit last week by the foot-and-mouth scare. Most in the market believe that Glanbia and Golden Vale were heavily oversold last week. Glanbia rebounded 13 cents yesterday to close on #0.55 while Golden Vale regained seven cents to #0.87.

Financial shares were generally firmer, but Anglo Irish fell nine cents on hefty volumes as almost three million shares traded. AIB, Bank of Ireland and Irish Life & Permanent were all firmer. CR H - ahead of results today - gained four cents to #20.44.