Financials drag ISEQ down
The financials performed poorly, with First Active slipping 10c to €5.20, while Bank of Ireland and Irish Life & Permanent eased 8c to €10.35 and €11.52 respectively. Allied Irish Bank stayed at €13.25 while Anglo Irish Bank rose 15c to €6.83.
Elsewhere, CRH dropped a fourth day in a row, tumbling 75c to €13.60 following a downgrade by a leading analyst.
Grafton Group was 12c weaker at €3.50 and Abbey finished 13c lower at €4.65. Independent News & Media gained 2c to €1.35 following further evidence that the advertising market in Australia and New Zealand is showing signs of an improvement. Among food stocks, Greencore added 13c to €2.65. Kerry Group closed at €12.59, up 4c, while Glanbia dropped 5c to €1.52. It was a mixed day for pharmaceuticals as Galen Holdings tumbled 30c to €7.70, however United Drug rose 25c to €12.25 and Elan Corporation finished 7c up at €2.77.
