The main financials remained weak today on the Dublin Stock Exchange with Bank of Ireland down 11 cents to euro 9.78 and Irish Life & Permanent down 23 cents to euro 12.02.
However the overall index closed 26.25 points up at 5,597.62.
Allied Irish rallied after being down most of the day to be trading at euro 12.96 at the close, 4 cents down on the day.
The weakness in the financials is being blamed on profit-taking prompted by strong last quarter results.
Eircom shares had a strong day's trading prompted by yesterday's news that NTL's cable licence may be at risk from digital delay. Eircom shares were trading at euro 2.53 by the close, up 13 cents.
Fears of a slowdown in the US economy has increased demand for cyclical stocks, most notably CRH which closed the day's trading 38 cents up at euro 19.08.
Similarly there was high turnover in Smurfit shares which ended the day 1.5 per cent up on yesterday at euro 2.08.
Second line stocks continued an upward trend today. Jurys rose 22 cents to close the day's trading at euro 9.50. Green Property, Abbey and Irish Continental all registered gains today.
