Financials gain but market drops

THE ISEQ index closed down 15.59 to 8,081.81.

The financial sector was mixed with AIB and Bank of Ireland increasing by 23c and 20c to €20.30 and €15.20. Bank of Ireland released a strong trading statement lifting their full year earnings expectations. In contrast, Irish Life and Permanent and Anglo Irish dropped 20c and 1c to €18.90 and €12.70.

In the construction sector, CRH was 55c lower at €26.90. Kingspan Group was also in negative territory at €15.72. Grafton Group added 22c to €10.52.