Market moves back into the black

THE ISEQ Index closed in positive territory on the strength of the financial stocks yesterday. Irish shares gained 65.81 to 8,621.33.

The banking sector was 132.62 points stronger. AIB added 23c to €21.35. Bank of Ireland increased 14c to €15.79. Anglo and Irish Life and Permanent were 5c and 23c better off at €14.05 and €19.25.

Construction giant CRH jumped 44c to €27.69. Kingspan Group moved 16c ahead to €16.64. Grafton Group and McInerney Holdings bucked the trend dropping 1c and 17c to €11.50 and €13.26.