Financials boost to trading

THE ISEQ index rose sharply again yesterday as heavy trading volumes and among the financial and construction sectors saw the Dublin market reach 9,490.39.

In the financial sector AIB and Bank of Ireland added 15c a piece to finish at €22.70 and €17.60. Irish Life and Permanent shot up 135c to €22.10. Anglo-Irish continued Thursday’s positive momentum tacking on 15c to €16.20. The construction sector saw CRH move on 49c to €31.29 on the back of nearly 2.5 million shares exchanging hands. Grafton and Kingspan added 23c and 20c to end the session at €12.30 and €20.00.

Elsewhere, Elan rocketed 93c to €10.23 to regain some of its recent losses.