ISEQ makes marginal advance

ON a largely mixed day for European bourses, The ISEQ traded higher early on before settling only 0.90 points higher at 4566.71.

The financials featured among the main movers. Allied Irish Bank added 7c to 12.77 while Anglo Irish Bank closed 6c firmer at 9.21. Elsewhere, Kerry Group gained 15c to 14.87 while Grafton added 10c to 4.95.

Weaker was CRH, 4c off, despite gaining territory in earlier trading. Following the announcement that profits at Irish Continental fell sharply in the first half of this year to 1.9m, compared with €3.3m in the same period last year, the stock fell 25c to 8.90.