Mixed day for Irish banks shares

ALL eyes were focused on the announcement that Budget 2009 would be brought in two months early and the likelihood of a Government stimulus package being announced at that time.

The Dublin market wavered between minor losses and gains for much of yesterday’s session, only to settle down 77.113 points to 4444.777.

Bank stocks experienced a mixed day as AIB and Bank of Ireland fell 29c and 20c to €8.41 and €5.53. Anglo-Irish followed suit, shipping 13c to €5.58. Irish Life and Permanent , Ireland largest domestic mortgage lender, jumped 13.6c to 6.786. The construction sector fell en masse as CRH gave up 46c to €18.22. Kingspan and Grafton Group followed the trend, down 40c and 12.5c to €8.00 and €3.565 respectively.