Banks lead market recovery

The ISEQ index rebounded after its recent slump as investors shopped for bargains and closed up 149.34 points to 7510.71.

AIB charged ahead 80c to €18.30, while Bank of Ireland advanced 23c to €14.05. Irish Life & Permanent added 35c to €18.75 with Anglo-Irish jumping 23c to €12.08.

In construction, CRH was among the leading risers up 75c to €26.15. Grafton Group added 35c to €10 following figures released showing that housing transactions in Britain reached 121,000 in April against 109,000 last year.