Banking drags down market

THE Irish exchange dropped 117 points yesterday to 6,859 as the banking and constructions stocks fell into negative territory.

AIB fell 34c to €15.15. Bank of Ireland dipped 10c to €10.25. Anglo and Irish Life and Permanent were 33c and 37c worse off at €10.05 and €11.43.

CRH finished 67c lower at €24.58 following media speculation that the sale of Anglo American‘s Tarmac subsidiary is suspended due to turmoil in the credit markets. Grafton Group and Kingspan dipped 15c and 21c to €5.35 and €10.79.