The Iseq retreated with other European markets today as macro concerns over unrest in the Middle East, and rising oil prices, unnerved investors.
The domestic reporting season continued with the release of CRH's full year results. Brokers noted that the numbers held no surprises, and had been well flagged in the previous statements from the cement giant. "If anything the outlook was slightly more positive than the market was expecting," one broker noted.
Initially CRH marked up to €17.15, a jump of more than 2 per cent. However as markets began to sell off internationally it slipped back to close at €16.31, leaving it almost 48 cent down on the day. The stock had enjoyed a good run into its results, and brokers attributed today's slide to profit-taking.
Grafton pushed ahead by more than 3 per cent, or 12.5 cent, to €3.88 in advance of its results on Thursday.
In the food and drink sector, cider manufacturer C&C was strong initially, tipping €3.60 at one point in the session, but sold off towards the close. It finished just below €3.56, a fall of two cent.
Aryzta and Kerry both notched up gains on the day, adding 55 cent and 20 cent to close at €34.25 and €26.50 respectively.
Overall the Iseq was down about 0.6 per cent at just under 2,960. Across Europe, Germany's DAX slid 0.8 per cent, while France's CAC 40 and the UK's FTSE 100 retreated more than 1 per cent.
Additional reporting - Bloomberg
