Financials temper market rise

THE ISEQ Index advanced 51.03 to 9,412.28 yesterday despite a sluggish start by financial stocks.

Bank of Ireland shed 45c to €16.70 despite issuing an upbeat full year pre-close trading statement. AIB climbed 15c to €22.55. Irish Life & Permanent dropped 40c to €19.70 with Anglo-Irish finishing 5c lighter at €16.12.

Construction giant CRH climbed 48c to €31.02 while McInerney jumped 57c to €15.12. Kingspan rose 49c to €19.40 with Grafton gaining 12c to €11.72.