Banking gains see market rise

The ISEQ Index closed 62.31 points stronger at 7,581.78 yesterday as the banking and construction stocks finished in positive territory.

In the financial sector, AIB was 15c stronger at €18.65, Bank of Ireland added 5c at €13.85 and Anglo Irish finished up 20c at €11.85.

Construction giant CRH jumped 28c to €26.39. Grafton Group and Kingspan Group were 12c and 15c ahead at €10.22 and €13.40 respectively.

Elsewhere, United Drug rose following the acquisition of the travel health service provider MASTA, taking a 25% stake in The Medicare Group and the Government completing its drug pricing review. United was up 14c at €3.52. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical company Elan fell 25c to €12.75 despite entering into a licensing agreement with Abbott for a new combination cholesterol drug.