Shares retreat for first day in three

SHARES in Dublin slipped into negative territory for the first day in three as many of the heavyweights announced interim results. The ISEQ fell 14.02 points to 6647.73.

The financial sector lost just 5.89 points overall. AIB fell just 2c to €17.50. Bank of Ireland eased back 7c to €12.80 while Anglo-Irish added 1c to €11.06. Meanwhile Irish Life & Permanent advanced 23c to €14.85.

In construction giant CRH decreased by 63c. Grafton Group gained 10c to €8.70, Kingspan remained flat at €10.30 while McInerney dropped 2c to €8.30.

Kerry Group was 80c weaker following interim results slightly below expectations. Eircom climbed 5c on details of its proposed rights issue as part of its acquisition of mobile network Meteor. Horizon Group rose 2c to €1.16.