Financials regain ground

THE ISEQ index of shares closed marginally up yesterday, finishing 23.99 points higher at 3644.03 points.

The financial sector regained some ground lost by Bank of Ireland’s recent share price fall. Bank of Ireland itself led the charge by adding 35c, up to €9.05. Irish Life & Permanent followed suit by climbing 30c to €10.70. Allied Irish Bank lost 15c, to €11.80, and First Active dropped 5c to €4.40. IFG remained unchanged at 60c.

The Financial Index closed up 88.22 points to 7399.12. Datalex, a provider of e-business infrastructure for global travel clients, announced that a company director had bought 100,000 shares in the company. Datalex rose 2c to 25c.

Other movers were Icon, down €1.50 to €19.75, Qualceram, falling 40c to €1.00, Kerry, losing 26c to €12.34, Jury Doyle Hotels, dropping 21c to €6.26, and Riverdeep, slipping 9c to €1.05. FBD Holdings and Iona Technologies lost 25c to close at €5.60 and €1.70 respectively. Elan gained 7c to €1.30.