CRH drives market advance

THE market started the week in positive territory with sharp gains in CRH the main catalyst for the rise.

The ISEQ Index closed 25.31 higher at 9,331.56.

In the financial sector AIB was up 11c to €20.32. Bank of Ireland gained 16c to €15.10, Anglo-Irish shed 22c to €14.98 while Irish Life & Permanent gave up 17c to €18.52.

In construction, CRH jumped 42c higher to €37.05. The company predicted in its pre-close trading statement that first half-year profits would be up around 25%.