Banks lead market higher
The financial sector recovered some of its recent losses.
Ireland’s two leading banks led the surge with Allied Irish Bank adding 35c to 13.10 and Bank of Ireland recovering 23c to 10.24. Irish Life & Permanent lost 30c to 10.90.
Other financials to close the day in the red were Anglo Irish Bank down 3c to 6.82 and IFG one cent lower to 42c. First Active remained unchanged at 5.30.
The Index of Financial shares closed 131.54 points higher to 8237.40 points.
The pharmaceutical sector suffered a mixed day. Galen, Northern Ireland’s largest drugmaker, fell 6c to 8.25 despite announcing that conditional to regulatory approval it will buy the rights to Eli Lilly & Co’s Sarafem - a treatment for a premenstrual disorder.
Elan Pharmaceutical lost 15c to 2.80 and United Drug added 5c to 12.10.
Other noteworthy movers included food stocks IAWS, 27c lower to 7.63, Kerry Group 10c stronger to 12.70 and Greencore 3c better off to 2.70.
CRH lost 30c to 13.20, Kingspan fell 10c to 1.75 and IWP slumped 7c to 30c. Arnotts gained 15c to 11.50 and Waterford Wedgewood added 3c to 55c.
