ISEQ report

THE Dublin market soared yesterday as the financials gained considerable ground on the back of some encouraging news for the sector.

The ISEQ index closed 269.46, up at 6,912.84.

In the financial sector, Bank of Ireland gained 45c to €10.63 on news that a leading US investor, Harris Associates, had increased its holding in the company to 4%.

Anglo-Irish jumped a massive 104c to €11.02 as the company announced a record 46% rise in pre-tax profit for the full year. AIB and Irish Life & Permanent followed suit, adding 75c and 73c respectively to finish the session at €14.75 and €12.33.