Financials stem market decline

THE ISEQ index continued its decline yesterday dipping 24.75 and closing at 6869.26.

The financials helped to cushion the fall with AIB and Bank of Ireland climbing 20c and 8c. However, Anglo-Irish gave up 11c while Irish Life and Permanent was also weaker falling 20c to €15.30.

CRH dropped 23c to €22.45 despite new figures showing an increase of 17% in new sales in the US housing market. Grafton shares lost 2c to €7.90 as British home loan approvals reached a 17-month high in October. Meanwhile, Kingspan increased by 11c to €10.36 with McInerney falling by 7c to €8.83.