Market in fightback mood

THE ISEQ index enjoyed a good end to the week by closing up 220.68 at 4,894.47 as the banking sector had another positive day with US bank Citibank posting much better results than originally anticipated.

The banks had a positive day with AIB up 30c to €8.50, Bank of Ireland rose 18c to €5.57, Anglo Irish Bank jumped up 65c to €5.40, while Irish Life & Permanent powered ahead €1 to €5.67.

In the construction sector, heavyweight stock CRH shot up €1.65 to €17.65, Kingspan added on 71c to €6.71, while Grafton Group moved to €3.28, an increase of 28c.