Financials weak in lacklustre trading

SHARES in the Dublin market were slightly above par on an otherwise lacklustre day of trading. The index saw a modest increase of 0.44 points to close at 5415.31.

Irish pharmaceutical Elan jumped 69c to €20.57 after an announcement that the US Patent and Trademark Office issued three patents for research on immunotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of Alzheimer’s.

Financials on the day did little to buoy the market in the right direction with AIB shedding 7c to €12.30. Similarly, Bank of Ireland slipped to €10.55, off the pace by 4c. Irish Life & Permanent were also down a sizeable 12c to €12.53, as were Anglo with a descent of 12c to €12.81.