Rate stability prompts market rise

The ISEQ Index finished in positive territory as the ECB announced it is to leave interest rates unchanged for September. The Dublin exchange closed up 38.73 points at 8,045.05.

The financial sector was mixed overall. AIB climbed 12c to an all time high of €20.40. Bank of Ireland shed 15c to €14.80; Irish Life & Permanent eased 3c to €20.10 as did Anglo-Irish which closed at €12.90.

In construction, sector leader CRH soared 47c to €27.07 with 3.2 million shares traded. Grafton Group and Kingspan climbed to €10.68 and €13.98.