Strong financials propel gains

THE Irish market outperformed its European peers yesterday advancing for the first day this week.

The ISEQ index closed 52.43 points higher at 4382.01.

The strength came from the financials. Bank of Ireland, which repurchased a further 500,000 shares on Wednesday, rose 29c to 10.39. Allied Irish Bank gained 28c to 12.30 while Anglo Irish Bank climbed 2.2% to a new 52 week high of 8.47.