Financials drag ISEQ lower

THE ISEQ Index returned to the red yesterday after regaining some ground on Wednesday. The Dublin Exchange ended the session 43.12 points lighter at 8,694.33.

The financial sector was weaker overall. AIB fell 6c to €21.05, while Bank of Ireland shed 10c to €16.20. Anglo-Irish also dropped 10c to €14.35, with Irish Life & Permanent falling 35c to €19.00.

Construction stocks were mixed with heavyweight CRH sliding 15c to €28.45. Grafton Group dropped 12c to €11.03, while Kingspan added 5c to €16.85.

Elsewhere, Ryanair lost 30c to €9.40 as the company admitted its takeover bid for Aer Lingus is a long shot. Meanwhile, IAWS climbed 12c to €18.57, United Drug tacked on 7c to €3.58, while exploration company Petroneft gained 5c to €0.78.