Financial shares tumble

THE ISEQ index fell 145.04 points to 4214.67 yesterday.

The two main banks led the decline. Bank of Ireland tumbled 61c to 11.20 while Allied Irish Bank dropped 66c to 12.05. Anglo Irish Bank slipped 22c to 6.22, First Active lost 15c to 4.80 and Irish Life & Permanent closed 7c weaker at 12.95. Overall the financial index fell 397.02 points to 8335.12.

Kerry Group slipped 46c to 14.90. Greencore was 2c stronger at 2.70 while Fyffes and Glanbia both shed 2c to 1.41 and 1.52 respectively. CRH was unchanged at 14.55.

Other construction stocks were down, with Abbey shedding 20c to 4.60 and Grafton Group 15c softer at 3.95. Elan Corporation finished 9c higher at 3.04 while Galen Holdings lost 38c to 6.52.

Other main movers included Ryanair which fell 52c to 5.35, in line with other European airlines, on renewed terrorism fears and Alphyra closed 9c lower at 93c.