Market starts year positively

The ISEQ index started the year in positive fashion with banks and top level equities sending the market higher. The Dublin Exchange closed 66.12 points stronger at 7430.08.

The financials surged ahead with AIB adding 25c to €18.30 and Bank of Ireland, jumping 27c to €13.58. Anglo Irish was unchanged at €12.82 while Irish Life and Permanent fell, down 23c to €17.03.

CRH climbed 45c to €25.30 after buying a 26.4% stake in Spanish company Uniland for €300m. Grafton gained 20c to 9.40 while Kingspan surged 50c ahead to €11.15.