Market hopeful after rise

THE ISEQ index gained 176.81 points yesterday to 4,689.87, as hopes that the worst of the credit crisis is over and that the huge surge in commodity prices, especially crude oil, is also behind us.

The banks were big gainers again as AIB closed up 40c at €9.23. Bank of Ireland gained 25c to €6.31. Anglo Irish Bank jumped 47c to €6.83, while Irish Life & Permanent increased 59c to finish at €6.79.

In the construction sector, CRH rose 64c to €19.04. Grafton Group added 38c to €4.35, while Kingspan progressed 35c to €7.35.