Strong results boost market

A BUSY day of corporate announcements, with CRH and Anglo Irish bank releasing trading statements, saw the Irish market advance 72.83 points to close at 6,462.92.

Anglo Irish announced a 17% increase in underlying pre-tax profits for the six months to the end of March, the financial sector and the ISEQ index as a whole were bolstered by this rare positive news. The share price rose 47c to 9.67.

AIB and Bank of Ireland were among the indices leading movers; advancing 14.2c and 17c to €14 and €9.17. Irish Life and Permanent followed the trend adding 1c to €10.91.