Financials slow market

THE Irish market hovered around it opening mark for much of yesterday, only to dip into the red in afternoon trading as interim reporting season continued at full pace.

The Iseq finished the week down 0.32 of a point at 4,494.918.

The financials were chief among the lagging stocks as AIB and Bank of Ireland slumped to 5c and 8c losses to finish at €8.70 and €5.45. Irish Life and Permanent followed the trend shedding 8c to €6.36. The only bright note was a solid gain of 25c from Anglo-Irish to end the session at €5.95.