Market advances on slow day

THE Irish exchange closed in positive territory despite low trading volumes with the US market closed for the day. The ISEQ gained 49 to 9,416.

AIB added 11c to €20.60. Bank of Ireland was 26c better off at €15.43. Irish Life and Permanent increased 30c and Anglo increased 11c to €19.10 and €15.11.

CRH was 40c stronger at €37.35 while the rest of the construction stocks remained in negative territory. Grafton Group and McInerney declined 13c to €2.11 and €10.37. Kingspan decreased 10c to €20.60.