Market gain driven by financials

THE Irish market closed up 34.49 yesterday at 6,522.02 as the market made solid gains driven mainly by the financial and construction sectors.

Bank of Ireland rose 19c to close at €9.52. Irish Life & Permanent gained 20c to finish at €10.40. Anglo Irish Bank made gains of 4.1c while AIB closed the day flat at €14.90.

The construction stocks had a positive day with CRH adding 78c to €23.78 and Kingspan gaining 25.3c to €10.05, with over 2.15 million shares traded in the stock. Grafton Group increased 18.6c to end the week at €4.90.