Negativity hits financials

THE Irish market traded lower for most of the day, before closing marginally higher at 4246.65 points, up 3.13.

Financial stocks were hit by negative sentiment with Irish Life & Permanent dropping 29c to 12.15 and Allied Irish Bank lost 13c to 13.87.

Anglo Irish Bank slipped 7c to 6.55. Bank of Ireland managed to add 5c to 10.85 and First Active edged 2c higher to 4.77. Overall the financial index finished 48.27 points weaker at 8671.40.