Banks hit by takeover rumours

IRISH stocks fell, led by Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Banks.

The ISEQ Index declined 43.73 points to 5616.41.

Bank of Ireland dropped 7 cent to €10.70, while AIB shed 14 cent to €13.67 after a report that Lloyds, Britain’s fifth-largest bank by assets, is preparing a bid for National Australia Bank's National Irish Bank and Northern Bank.