Dublin shares opened weaker today pulling the ISEQ 70.9 points lower to 5,873 with the financial sector on the retreat.
But volumes remained thin ahead of Fed chairman Mr Alan Greenspan's keynote testimony to the US Congress this afternoon on the state of the faltering US economy.
AIB fell 15 cents to euro 11.80, Bank of Ireland is off 3 cents to euro 10.45 and Eircom fell 2 cents to euro 2.38.
Technology stocks continued to be battered with Horizon down 27 cents to euro 6.60 and Iona down euro 6.0 at euro 54.00.
Bargain hunters propped up the FTSE 100 this morning. The FTSE 100 index was 27.5 points lower at 5,968.7 after good results from Reckitt Benckiser.
Banks stocks got a lift from merger further rumours. The Royal Bank of Scotland gained 49p at £15.59, while Abbey National gained 30p at £11.59, and Alliance & Leicester added 12p at £6.85.